Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld

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.

Language tethers us to the world; without it we spin like atoms.

Language tethers us to the world; without it we spin like atoms.

Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity.

Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity.

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.]

It is easier to appear worthy of a position one does not hold,
than of the office which one read more

It is easier to appear worthy of a position one does not hold,
than of the office which one fills.
[Fr., Il est plus facile de paraitre digne des emplois qu'on n'a
pas que de ceux que l'on exerce.]