“We endeavor to make a virtue of the faults we are unwilling to correct.”
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Famous Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes
“There are certain defects which, well-mounted, glitter like virtue itself.”
“Indolence, languid as it is, often masters both passions and virtues.”
“There are some faults which, when well managed, make a greater figure than virtue itself.”
“Self-love, as it happens to be well or ill conducted, constitutes virtue and vice.”
“Fortune makes our virtues and vices visible, just as light does the objects of sight.”
“Virtue would not make such advances if there were not a little vanity to keep it company.”
“Virtues lose themselves in self-interest, as rivers in the sea.”
“Men frequently do good only to give themselves opportunity of doing ill with impunity.”
“It is not always for virtue's sake that women are virtuous.”
“Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue often gets the praise.”
“It is often laziness and timidity that keep us within our duty while virtue gets all the credit.”
“Repentance is not so much remorse for what we have done as the fear of the consequences.”
“We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue.”
“Our virtues are often, in reality, no better than vices disguised.”
“The name and pretense of virtue is as serviceable to self-interest as are real vices.”
“Whilst weakness and timidity keep us to our duty, virtue has often all the honor.”
“It requires greater virtues to support good fortune than bad.”
“If vanity does not entirely overthrow the virtues, at least it makes them all totter.”
“To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is to insult them without fear of consequences.”