Francois de La Rochefoucauld

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words, so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.

It is not enough to have great qualities We should also have the management of them.

They that apply themselves to trifling matters commonly become incapable of great ones.

However glorious an action in itself, it ought not to pass for great if it be not the effect of wisdom and intention.

A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.

What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.

It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever.

There is a kind of elevation which does not depend on fortune it is a certain air which distinguishes us, and seems to destine us for great things it is a price which we imperceptibly set upon ourselves.

As great minds have the faculty of saying a great deal in a few words, so lesser minds have a talent of talking much, and saying nothing.

Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires.

We seldom find any person of good sense, except those who share our opinions.

Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.

Good advice is something a man gives when he is too old to set a bad example.

Philosophy finds it an easy matter to vanquish past and future evils, but the present are commonly too hard for it.

In friendship as well as love, ignorance very often contributes more to our happiness than knowledge.

If we are to judge of love by its consequences, it more nearly resembles hatred than friendship.

However rare true love may be, it is less so than true friendship.

A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.

One forgives to the degree that one loves.

Love can no more continue without a constant motion than fire can and when once you take hope and fear away, you take from it its very life and being.