Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld

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.

We would often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world understood all the motives which produced them.

We would often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world understood all the motives which produced them.

We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the
manner in which it is done.
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We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the
manner in which it is done.
[Fr., On croit quelquefoir hair la flatterie; maid on ne hait que
a maniere de flatter.]

True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen.

True love is like ghosts, which everybody talks about and few have seen.

Coquetry is the essential characteristic, and the prevalent humor
of women; but they do not all practise it, because read more

Coquetry is the essential characteristic, and the prevalent humor
of women; but they do not all practise it, because the coquetry
of some is restrained by fear or by reason.