The Wisdom of François de La Rochefoucauld: 35 Timeless Quotes on Human Nature
François de La Rochefoucauld (born September 15, 1613, Paris, France – died March 17, 1680, Paris, France) was a French writer and moralist renowned for his incisive reflections on human behavior, most notably captured in his celebrated work, Maximes (1665).
Once active in politics and the royal court, La Rochefoucauld turned to writing after becoming disillusioned with public life. His Maximes reveal a deeply skeptical view of virtue, love, and friendship, often portraying them as forms of pride and self-interest.
His style is crisp, elegant, and full of irony—making complex truths feel both accessible and thought-provoking. Though he wrote little, his insights into how people behave and why they do what they do remain strikingly relevant today.
No man is more frequently in error than he who cannot bear to be wrong.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 386, Page 104
Absence weakness lukewarm feelings but intensified great ones, as wind snuffs out candles but feeds fire.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 276, Page 86
If we had no faults, we should not take such pleasure in calling attention to other people’s.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 31, Page 38
Old men love to give good advice to console themselves for not being able to set bad examples.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 93, Page 50
It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 132, Page 57
We get so much in the habit of wearing a disguise before others that we finally appear disguised before ourselves.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 119, Page 55
Love of justice, in most men, is only a fear of encountering injustice.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 78, Page 47
True love is like seeing ghosts; we all talk about it, but few of us have ever seen one.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 76, Page 47
We often forgive those who bore us; we cannot forgive those whom we bore.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 304, Page 91
We all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 19, Page 36
People who are too much concerned with little things usually become incapable of big ones.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 41, Page 40
The surest way to be outwitted is to suppose yourself sharper than others.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 127, Page 56
We cannot bear the vanity of others because it hurts our own.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 389, Page 105
There are no experiences so disastrous that thoughtful men cannot derive some profit from them, nor so happy that the thoughtless cannot use them to their harm.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 59, Page 44
We make promises to the extent that we hope, and keep them to the extent that we fear.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 38, Page 40
As it is the mark of great minds to convey much in few words, so small minds are skilled at talking at length and saying little.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 142, Page 57
Second-rate minds usually condemn everything beyond their grasp.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 375, Page 103
Maxims and Reflections on Amazon
Unless they share our opinions, we seldom find people sensible.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 347, Page 98
In most men gratitude is only a secret longing for greater benefits.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 298, Page 90
Our envy always outlasts the happiness of those who inspire it.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 476, Page 120
We must deal with luck as with health: enjoy it when it is good, be patient when it is bad.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 392, Page 105
Almost all our faults are more pardonable than the methods we resort to hide them.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 411, Page 109
Quarrels would not last long were the wrong all on one side.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 496, Page 124
Philosophy triumphs with ease over misfortunes past and to come, but present misfortunes triumph over it.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 22, Page 37
We are never so ridiculous for the qualities we have as for those we pretend to.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 134, Page 57
Perfect courage means doing unwitnessed what we would be capable of with the world looking on.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 216, Page 73
We are never so happy or so unhappy as we think.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 49, Page 42
One reason why so few people are intelligent and attractive in conversation is that almost everybody thinks of what he wants to say instead of how to answer properly what has been said to him.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 139, Page 58
The confidence one has in oneself chiefly creates the confidence one inspires in others.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 624, Page 153
If we cannot find peace inside ourselves, it is useless to look for it elsewhere.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 571, Page 143
Before passionately craving something, we should ascertain how happy are those who possess it.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 543, Page 136
Nothing so much prevents our being natural as the desire to seem so.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 431, Page 112
We should judge a man’s worth, not by his good qualities but by the use he puts them to.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 437, Page 113
In friendship, as in love, we are often happier not knowing things than knowing them.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 441, Page 114
With nothing are we so generous as advice.The Maxims of La Rochefoucauld (ed. Random House, 1959), (tr. Kronenberger), Maxim 110, Page 53
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