Quotes from la rochefoucauld ii

Everyone takes pleasure in returning small obligations, many people acknowledge moderate ones; but there are only a scarce few who do not pay great ones with ingratitude.

'Tis much easier to suppress a first desire, than to satisfy all those that follow it.

If vanity does not overthrow all virtues, at least she makes them totter.

We always love those who admire us, and we do not always love those whom we admire.

In all aspects of life, we take on a part and an appearance to seem to be what we wish to be--and thus the world is merely composed of actors.

That man who has never been in danger cannot answer for his courage.

Whatever difference may appear in men's fortunes, there is nevertheless a certain compensation of good and ill that makes all equal.

Ordinary men commonly condemn what is beyond them.

We had better appear what we are, than affect to appear what we are not.

Few know how to be old.

The head is always the bubble of the heart.

Kings make men as they do pieces of money; they put what value they please on them, and we are compelled to receive them according to the value put on them, and not according to their true worth.

Not all who discharge their debts of gratitude should flatter themselves that they are grateful.

There are few virtuous women who are not tired of their part.

The world oftener rewards the appearance of merit than merit itself.

Whatever care we take to conceal our passions under the appearance of piety and honor, they are always to be seen through these veils.

Before we passionately desire a thing, we should examine the happiness of its possessor.

We seldom find people ungrateful so long as we are in a condition to render them service.

A resolution never to deceive exposes a man to be often deceived.