Quotes from la rochefoucauld viii

We try to make a virtue of vices we are loath to correct.

Our actions are like blank rhymes, to which everyone applies what sense he pleases.

The ambitious deceive themselves in proposing an end to their ambition; that end, when attained, becomes a means.

To praise great actions is in some sense to share them.

Friendship is insipid to those who have experienced love.

Few people know death, we only endure it, usually from determination, and even from stupidity and custom; and most men only die because they know not how to prevent dying.

We take less pains to be happy, than to appear so.

We judge so superficially of things, that common words and actions spoke and done in an agreeable manner, with some knowledge of what passes in the world, often succeed beyond the greatest ability.

Ability wins us the esteem of the true men; luck that of the people.

Old fools are greater fools than young ones.

However we may conceal our passions under the veil ... there is always some place where they peep out.

The heat of youth is not more opposed to safety than the coldness of age.

There is merit without elevation, but there is no elevation without some merit.

All passions make us commit some faults, love alone makes us ridiculous.

Men are never so easily deceived as when they are endeavoring to deceive others.

Our distrust justifies the deceit of others.

Few men know all the ill they do.

We should often be ashamed of our very best actions if the world only saw the motives which caused them.

When the heart is still disturbed by the relics of a passion it is proner to take up a new one than when wholly cured.

Love is the smallest part of gallantry.