John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Fran&edilois
1 | |
Our virtues are most frequently but vices disguised. 1 | |
Maxim 19. | |
2 | |
We have all sufficient strength to endure the misfortunes of others. | |
Maxim 19. | |
3 | |
Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but present evils triumph over it. 2 | |
Maxim 22. | |
4 | |
We need greater virtues to sustain good than evil fortune. | |
Maxim 25. | |
5 | |
Neither the sun nor death can be looked at with a steady eye. | |
Maxim 26. | |
6 | |
Interest speaks all sorts of tongues, and plays all sorts of parts, even that of disinterestedness. | |
Maxim 39. | |
7 | |
We are never so happy or so unhappy as we suppose. | |
Maxim 49. | |
8 | |
There are few people who would not be ashamed of being loved when they love no longer. | |
Maxim 71. | |
9 | |
True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen. | |
Maxim 76. | |
10 | |
The love of justice is simply, in the majority of men, the fear of suffering injustice. | |
Maxim 78. | |
11 | |
Silence is the best resolve for him who distrusts himself. | |
Maxim 79. | |
12 | |
Friendship is only a reciprocal conciliation of interests, and an exchange of good offices; it is a species of commerce out of which self-love always expects to gain something. | |
Maxim 83. | |
13 | |
A man who is ungrateful is often less to blame than his benefactor. | |
Maxim 96. | |
14 | |
The understanding is always the dupe of the heart. | |
Maxim 102. | |
15 | |
Nothing is given so profusely as advice. | |
Maxim 110. | |
16 | |
The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others. | |
Maxim 127. | |
17 | |
Usually we praise only to be praised. | |
Maxim 146. | |
18 | |
Our repentance is not so much regret for the ill we have done as fear of the ill that may happen to us in consequence. | |
Maxim 180. | |
19 | |
Most people judge men only by success or by fortune. | |
Maxim 212. | |
20 | |
Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. | |
Maxim 218. | |
21 | |
Too great haste to repay an obligation is a kind of ingratitude. | |
Maxim 226. | |
22 | |
There is great ability in knowing how to conceal one’s ability. | |
Maxim 245. | |
23 | |
The pleasure of love is in loving. We are happier in the passion we feel than in that we inspire. 3 | |
Maxim 259. | |
24 | |
We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire. | |
Maxim 294. | |
25 | |
The gratitude of most men is but a secret desire of receiving greater benefits. 4 | |
Maxim 298. | |
26 | |
Lovers are never tired of each other, though they always speak of themselves. | |
Maxim 312. | |
27 | |
We pardon in the degree that we love. | |
Maxim 330. | |
28 | |
We hardly find any persons of good sense save those who agree with with us. 5 | |
Maxim 347. | |
29 | |
The greatest fault of a penetrating wit is to go beyond the mark. | |
Maxim 377. | |
30 | |
We may give advice, but we cannot inspire the conduct. | |
Maxim 378. | |
31 | |
The veracity which increases with old age is not far from folly. | |
Maxim 416. | |
32 | |
In their first passion women love their lovers, in all the others they love love. 6 | |
Maxim 471. | |
33 | |
Quarrels would not last long if the fault was only on one side. | |
Maxim 496. | |
34 | |
In the adversity of our best friends we often find something that is not exactly displeasing. 7 |
Note 1. This epigraph, which is the key to the system of La Rochefoucauld, is found in another form as No. 179 of the Maxims of the first edition, 1665; it is omitted from the second and third, and reappears for the first time in the fourth edition at the head of the Reflections.—Aime Martin. [back] |
Note 2. See Goldsmith, Quotation 75. [back] |
Note 3. See Shelley, Quotation 15. [back] |
Note 4. See Walpole, Quotation 4. [back] |
Note 5. ”That was excellently observed,” say I when I read a passage in another where his opinion agrees with mine. When we differ, then I pronounce him to be mistaken.—Jonathan Swift: Thoughts on Various Subjects. [back] |
Note 6. See Byron, Quotation 209. [back] |
Note 7. This reflection, No. 99 in the edition of 1665, the author suppressed in the third edition. In all distresses of our friends We first consult our private ends; While Nature, kindly bent to ease us, Points out some circumstance to please us. Dean Swift: A Paraphrase of Rochefoucauld’s Maxim. [back] |