Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld

What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to read more

What seems to be generosity is often no more than disguised ambition, which overlooks a small interest in order to secure a great one.

Hypocrisy is the homage which vice renders to virtue.
[Fr., L'hypocrisie est un hommage que le vice rend a read more

Hypocrisy is the homage which vice renders to virtue.
[Fr., L'hypocrisie est un hommage que le vice rend a la vertu.]

A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.

A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.

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.]

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a
man's character, give him power.

Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a
man's character, give him power.