 |
 |
 |
 |
| in the human heart there is an endless procreation of passions: as soon as one is dethroned, another almost always comes to power. |
| we all have strength enough to endure the misfortunes of others. |
| philosophy triumphs with ease over misfortunes past and to come, but present misfortunes triumph over it. |
| it takes greater character to carry off good fortune than bad. |
| if we had no faults, we should not take such pleasure in calling attention to other people's. |
| judged by reactions, love is closer to hatred than to friendship. |
| 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. even the cleverest and most tactful people think it enough to wear an attentive expression, while revealing no interest in what is being said, and a show of haste to get back to what they want to say. to strive hard to please yourself is a poor way of pleasing or persuading others, and to listen and answer well is one of the greatest achievements you can boast in conversation. |
| we speak very little when vanity does not prompt us to speak. |
| we often boast of not being bored by solitude because we are too conceited to want to find ourselves poor company. |
| 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. |
| we exagerrate the good qualities of others out of regard for our own feelings, not their merits; for we wish to attract praise to ourselves while seeming to bestow it. |
| few people have sense enough to prefer blame from which they can benefit to praise which leads them astray. |
| there are various kinds of curiosity: one that springs from selfishness, urging us to discover what will be useful to us; and one that springs from pride, urging us to know what our neighbor is ignorant of. |
| some true words...from the mind of la rochefoucauld |
 |