Francois de La Rochenfoucauld

François VI, Duc de La Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac (15 September 1613 – 17 March 1680) was a noted French author of maxims and memoirs. His is a clear-eyed, worldly view of human conduct that indulges in neither condemnation nor sentimentality. Born in Paris on the Rue des Petits Champs, at a time when the royal court was oscillating between aiding the nobility and threatening it, he was considered an exemplar of the accomplished 17th-century nobleman. Until 1650, he bore the title of Prince de Marcillac.

“We are so accustomed to disguising our true nature from others, that we end up disguising it from ourselves.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“A true friend is the greatest of all blessings, and that which we take the least care of all to acquire.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“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.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“Mediocre minds usually dismiss anything which reaches beyond their own understanding.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“Few people have the wisdom to prefer the criticism that would do them good, to the praise that deceives them.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld

“We would frequently be ashamed of our good deeds if people saw all of the motives that produced them.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld 

“We promise in proportion to our hopes, and we deliver in proportion to our fears.” Francois de La Rochefoucauld