Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld

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.

Men are more satirical from vanity than from malice.

Men are more satirical from vanity than from malice.

Some hypocrites and seeming mortified men, that held down their
heads, were like the little images that they place read more

Some hypocrites and seeming mortified men, that held down their
heads, were like the little images that they place in the very
bowing of the vaults of churches, that look as if they held up
the church, but are but puppets.

We give advice, but we do not inspire conduct.

We give advice, but we do not inspire conduct.

The world rewards the appearance of merit oftener than merit
itself.
[Fr., Le monde recompense plus souvent les read more

The world rewards the appearance of merit oftener than merit
itself.
[Fr., Le monde recompense plus souvent les apparences de merite
que le merite meme.]