"The good or the bad fortune of men depends not less upon their own dispositions than upon fortune."
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Francois de La Rochefoucauld quotes (page 35 of 55)
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"Good and bad fortune are found severally to visit those who have the most of the one or the other."
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"Moderation cannot have the credit of combatiug and subduing ambition, they are never found together. Moderation is the languor and indolence of the soul, as ambition is its activity and ardor."
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"There are people who, like new songs, are in vogue only for a time."
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"The mark of extraordinary merit is to see those most envious of it constrained to praise."
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"Nature makes merit, and fortune puts it to work."
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"As love increases, prudence diminishes."
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"Interest blinds some people, and enlightens others."
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"Our merit gains us the esteem of the virtuous-our star that of the public."
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"It is with sincere affection or friendship as with ghosts and apparitions,--a thing that everybody talks of, and scarce any hath seen."
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"There is no praise we have not lavished upon prudence; and yet she cannot assure to us the most trifling event."
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"The most effectual way to be deceived is to believe oneself more cunning than one's neighbors."
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"What we take for high-mindedness is very often no other than ambition well disguised, that scorns means interests, only to pursuegreater."
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"Silence is the best security to the man who distrusts himself."
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"A man's wits are better employed in bearing up under the misfortunes that lie upon him at present than in foreseeing those that may come upon him hereafter."
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"We exaggerate the glory of some men in order to detract from that of others."
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"Some disguised deceits counterfeit truth so perfectly that not to be taken in by them would be an error of judgment."
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"Commonplace minds usually condemn what is beyond the reach of their understanding."
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"A man is ridiculous less through the characteristics he has than through those he affects to have."
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"It is safer to do most men harm than to do them too much good."
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