Photo source: Wikimedia Commons, Theodore Chasseriau
Francois de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) was a French philosopher best known for his analysis of human nature and for his list of Maximes. Wikipedia says,
"[La Rochefoucauld] made frequent alterations and additions to [the Maximes] during his life and a few were added after his death. It is usual now to publish them in their totality of 504. The majority consists of just two or three lines and hardly any exceed half a page. La Rochefoucauld reflects on the conduct and motives of mankind, from the point of view of a man of the world who intends not to sugar-coat his observations." (Wikipedia: Francois de La Rochefoucauld, 8.11.21 UTC 14:07)The rest of this post is some quotes from La Rochefoucauld.
Passion
"Moderation has been called a virtue to limit the ambition of great men..." (Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, 1665-1678)
"Those who have had great passions are happy all their lives and would be unhappy to have been cured of them." (Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, 1665-1678)
Egotism
"We would rather speak ill of ourselves than not talk about ourselves at all." (Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, 1665-1678)
"The refusal of praise is only the wish to be praised twice." (Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, 1665-1678)
"Jealously is always born with love but does not always die with it." (Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, 1665-1678)
Ethics
"Hardly any man is clever enough to know all the evil he does." (Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, 1665-1678)
"Hypocrisy is a homage that vice pays to virtue." (Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, 1665-1678)
Language
"The stamp of great minds is to suggest much in few words; by contrast, little minds have the gift of talking a great deal and saying nothing." (Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, 1665-1678)
"True eloquence consists in saying all that need be said and no more." (Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, 1665-1678)
