One cannot answer for his courage when he has never been in danger.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

Passion often makes a madman of the cleverest man, and renders the greatest fools clever.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

Passion often makes fools of the wisest men and gives the silliest wisdom.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

There are bad people who would be less dangerous if they were quite devoid of goodness.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

There are few things we should keenly desire if we really knew what we wanted.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

There is only one kind of love, but there are a thousand different versions.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

The truest way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

Those who most obstinately oppose the most widely-held opinions more often do so because of pride than lack of intelligence. They find the best places in the right set already taken, and they do not want back seats.

— François de La Rochefoucauld

To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art.

— François de La Rochefoucauld