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.

It is the prerogative of great men only to have great defects.
[Fr., Il n'appartient qu'aux grands hommes d'avoir read more

It is the prerogative of great men only to have great defects.
[Fr., Il n'appartient qu'aux grands hommes d'avoir de grands
defauts.]

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.

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.]

There are few people who are not ashamed of their love affairs when the infatuation is over.

There are few people who are not ashamed of their love affairs when the infatuation is over.