Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld

There is merit without elevation, but there is no elevation
without some merit.
[Fr., Il y a du read more

There is merit without elevation, but there is no elevation
without some merit.
[Fr., Il y a du merite sans elevation mais il n'y a point
d'elevation sans quelque merite.]

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.

Too great refinement is false delicacy, and true delicacy is
solid refinement.

Too great refinement is false delicacy, and true delicacy is
solid refinement.

Plenty of people wish to become devout, but no one wishes to be humble.

Plenty of people wish to become devout, but no one wishes to be humble.

The only good copies are those which exhibit the defects of bad
originals.

The only good copies are those which exhibit the defects of bad
originals.