You are here: Home / French literature Most young people think they are natural when they are only boorish and rude. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 372 Somethings never change. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld. Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims. J.W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell, trans. Samson Low, Marston, Dearle & Rivington (limited), London. 1888. Originally published in 1665.
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Little minds are too much wounded by little things; great minds see all and are not even hurt. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 357 François Duc de La Rochefoucauld. Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims. J.W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell, trans. Samson Low, Marston, Dearle & Rivington (limited), London. 1888. Originally published in 1665.
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There are persons of whom the world approves who have no merit beyond the vices they use in the affairs of life. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 273 As true today as it was over 350 years ago. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld. Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims. J.W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell,
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Pity is often a reflection of our own evils in the ills of others. It is a delicate foresight of the troubles into which we may fall. We help others that on occasions we may be helped ourselves, and these services which we render, are in reality benefits we confer on ourselves by anticipation. François
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This Friday’s Reflection from François Duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) will be the last. It’s number 372; there are 504. So I think we gave him a fair chance. At the very least, when his name comes up in conversation over cocktails with friends some evening, we may have something to contribute. To be sure,
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In all professions we affect a part and appearance to seem what we wish to be. Thus the world is merely composed of actors. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 256 Phased another way– All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players. Shakespeare, As You Like It François Duc de
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True eloquence consists in saying all that should be, not all that could be said. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 250 François Duc de La Rochefoucauld. Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims. J.W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell, trans. Samson Low, Marston, Dearle & Rivington (limited), London. 1888. Originally published in 1665.
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It is not so dangerous to do wrong to most men, as to do them too much good. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 238 Apparently, I have never gotten around to giving you the skinny on our pal, La Rochefoucauld. Here is his bio from that infallible source, and here he is at Britannica.
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We do not despise all who have vices, but we do despise all who have not virtue. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 186. More of La Rochefoucauld’s Reflections There are a lot these days who have not virtue. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld. Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims. J.W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell, trans.
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However deceitful hope may be, yet she carries us on pleasantly to the end of life. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 168 François Duc de La Rochefoucauld. Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims. J.W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell, trans. Samson Low, Marston, Dearle & Rivington (limited), London. 1888. More of La Rochefoucauld’s Reflections
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The fame of great men ought always to be estimated by the means used to acquire it. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 157 More of La Rochefoucauld’s Reflections François Duc de La Rochefoucauld. Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims. J.W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell, trans. Samson Low, Marston, Dearle & Rivington (limited), London. 1888. I
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It is easier to govern others than to prevent being governed. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 151 More of La Rochefoucauld’s Reflections François Duc de La Rochefoucauld. Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims. J.W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell, trans. Samson Low, Marston, Dearle & Rivington (limited), London. 1888.
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Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld No. 93 This one tickled me. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld. Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims. J.W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell, trans. Samson Low, Marston, Dearle & Rivington
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The passions are the only advocates which always persuade. They are a natural art, the rules of which are infallible; and the simplest man with passion will be more persuasive than the most eloquent without. François Duc de La Rochefoucauld This is maxim no. 8, altogether there are eight about passion. In no. 9 he
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Picture, so you can pair the face to the name. Born in Paris (1613) to an old and prominent noble family; died in Paris (1680). Married in 1628, eight children by his wife. Through the years he had four mistresses, at least one of whom bore him a son “for whom he had great affection.”
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What we term virtue is often but a mass of various actions and divers interests, which fortune, or our own industry, manage to arrange; and it is not always from valour or from chastity that men are brave, and women chaste. Duc De La Rochefoucauld, Maxim 1 I mentioned yesterday when I introduced Rochefoucauld’s Reflections;
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