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.

We sometimes think that we hate flattery, but we only hate the
manner in which it is done.
read more

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.]

How can we expect another to keep our secret if we cannot keep it
ourselves.

How can we expect another to keep our secret if we cannot keep it
ourselves.

All the passions are nothing else than different degrees of heat
and cold of the blood.
[Fr., Toutes read more

All the passions are nothing else than different degrees of heat
and cold of the blood.
[Fr., Toutes les passions ne sout autre chose que les divers
degres de la chaleur et de la froideur du sang.]

That which makes the vanity of others unbearable to us is that
which wounds our own.
[Fr., Ce read more

That which makes the vanity of others unbearable to us is that
which wounds our own.
[Fr., Ce qui nous rend la vanite des autres insupportable, c'est
qu'elle blesse la notre.]