"Though nature be ever so generous, yet can she not make a hero alone. Fortune must contribute her part too; and till both concur, the work cannot be perfected."
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Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes (page 19 of 55)
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"There are very few things impossible in themselves; and we do not want means to conquer difficulties so much as application and resolution in the use of means."
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"No man deserves to be praised for his goodness, who has it not in his power to be wicked. Goodness without that power is generally nothing more than sloth, or an impotence of will."
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"Perfect valour consists in doing without witnesses that which we would be capable of doing before everyone."
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"Only the great can afford to have great defects."
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"Το know how to profit by good advice, requires nearly as much ability as to know how to act for one'self."
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"Weakness is more opposed to virtue than is vice."
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"We should not judge a man's merits by his great qualities, but by the use he makes of them."
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"Narrowness of mind is often the cause of obstinacy; we do not easily believe beyond what we see."
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"Strength and weakness of mind are misnomers; they are really nothing but the good or bad health of our bodily organs."
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"Everyone agrees that a secret should be kept intact, but everyone does not agree as to the nature and importance of secrecy. Too often we consult ourselves as to what we should say, what we should leave unsaid. There are few permanent secrets, and the scruple against revealing them will not last forever."
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"Satire is at once the most agreeable and most dangerous of mental qualities. It always pleases when it is refined, but we always fear those who use it too much; yet satire should be allowed when unmixed with spite, and when the person satirized can join in the satire."
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"If we judge love by most of its effects, it resembles rather hatred than affection."
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"What makes the pain we feel from shame and jealousy so cutting is that vanity can give us no assistance in bearing them."
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"We give advice, we do not inspire conduct."
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"The heart is forever making the head its fool."
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"The art of using moderate abilities to advantage often brings greater results than actual brilliance"
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"The only good imitations are those that poke fun at bad originals."
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"Fortune and humor govern the world."
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"Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and sometimes renders the most foolish man clever."
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