Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld

Self-love is the greatest of all flatterers.

Self-love is the greatest of all flatterers.

Hope, deceitful as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable read more

Hope, deceitful as it is, serves at least to lead us to the end of our lives by an agreeable route.

Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone.

Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone.

The passions are the only orators that always persuade: they
are, as it were, a natural art, the rules read more

The passions are the only orators that always persuade: they
are, as it were, a natural art, the rules of which are
infallible; and the simplest man with passion is more persuasive
than the most eloquent without it.

True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and nothing but what is necessary.

True eloquence consists in saying all that is necessary, and nothing but what is necessary.