“There are foolish people who recognize their foolishness and use it skillfully.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Il y a des gens niais qui se connaissent et qui emploient habilement leur niaiserie.
Maxim 208.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
Reflections on Various Subjects (1665–1678), V. On Conversation
Reflections on Various Subjects (1665–1678), III. On Taste
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Les gens heureux ne se corrigent guère; ils croient toujours avoir raison quand la fortune soutient leur mauvaise conduite.
Maxim 227.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
Reflections on Various Subjects (1665–1678), II. On Difference of Character
“It is more disgraceful to distrust than to be deceived by our friends.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Il est plus honteux de se défier de ses amis que d'en être trompé.
Variant translation: It is more shameful to distrust our friends than to be deceived by them.
Maxim 84.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“In the adversity of our best friends we often find something that is not exactly displeasing.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Dans l'adversité de nos meilleurs amis, nous trouvons toujours quelque chose qui ne nous déplaît pas.
Maxim 99. This maxim is found only in the 1665 edition, and was removed by the author in later editions.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
Reflections on Various Subjects (1665–1678), II. On Difference of Character
“It is easier to seem worthy of positions one does not have than of those one does.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Il est plus facile de paraître digne des emplois qu'on n'a pas que de ceux que l'on exerce.
Maxim 164.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“We confess to little faults only to persuade ourselves we have no great ones.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Nous n'avouons de petits défauts que pour persuader que nous n'en avons pas de grands.
Maxim 327.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“The pleasure of love is in loving; we are happier in the passion we feel than in what we inspire.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Le plaisir de l'amour est d'aimer; et l'on est plus heureux par la passion que l'on a que par celle que l'on donne.
Maxim 259. Compare: "They who inspire it most are fortunate, As I am now; but those who feel it most Are happier still", Percy Bysshe Shelley, Prometheus Unbound, Act ii, Scene 5.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
On peut trouver des femmes qui n'ont jamais eu de galanterie; mais il est rare d'en trouver qui n'en aient jamais eu qu'une.
Maxim 73.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“Few women's merit lasts as long as their beauty.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Il y a peu de femmes dont le mérite dure plus que la beauté.
Maxim 474.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“Luck must be dealt with like health: enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Il faut gouverner la fortune comme la santé: en jouir quand elle est bonne, prendre patience quand elle est mauvaise.
Maxim 392.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“The mind is always the dupe of the heart.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
L'esprit est toujours la dupe du coeur.
Maxim 102.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“In jealousy there is more of self-love than love.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Il y a dans la jalousie plus d'amour-propre que d'amour.
Maxim 324.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“To succeed in the world we do everything we can to appear successful already.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Pour s'établir dans le monde, on fait tout ce que l'on peut pour y paraître établi.
Maxim 56.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“Of all violent passions, the least unbecoming to a woman is love.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
De toutes les passions violentes, celle qui sied le moins mal aux femmes, c'est l'amour.
Maxim 466.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“Usually we only praise to be praised.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
On ne loue d'ordinaire que pour être loué.
Maxim 146.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)
“There is only one kind of love, but there are a thousand different versions.”
François de La Rochefoucauld book Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims
Il n'y a qu'une sorte d'amour, mais il y en a mille différentes copies.
Maxim 74.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665–1678)