Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Though men are apt to flatter and exalt themselves with their great achievements, yet these are, in truth, very often owing not so much to design as chance.

Our actions seem to have their lucky and unlucky stars, to which a great part of that blame and that commendation is due which is given to the actions themselves.

There are a great many men valued in society who have nothing to recommend them but serviceable vices.

Those that have had great passions esteem themselves for the rest of their lives fortunate and unfortunate in being cured of them.

Too great haste to repay an obligation is a kind of ingratitude.

Those who are incapable of committing great crimes do not readily suspect them in others.

Great souls are not those who have fewer passions and more virtues than others, but only those who have greater designs.

We only acknowledge small faults in order to make it appear that we are free from great ones.

Nothing is so contagious as example and we never do any great good or evil which does not produce its like.

To know how to hide one's ability is great skill.

We may seem great in an employment below our worth, but we very often look little in one that is too big for us.

It is great folly to wish to be wise all alone.

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 oursel…

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.