Francois de La Rochefoucauld

There are few virtuous women who are not bored with their trade. ”

There are a great many men valued in society who have nothing to recommend them but serviceable vices. ”

It is a great act of cleverness to be able to conceal one's being clever. ”

The desire of talking of ourselves, and showing those faults we do not mind having seen, makes up a good part of our sincerity. ”

Pride, which inspires us with so much envy, is sometimes of use toward the moderating of it too. ”

Politeness is a desire to be treated politely, and to be esteemed polite oneself. ”

People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves and others may think them considerable enough to be the envy and the mark of fortune. ”

It is from a weakness and smallness of mind that men are opinionated; and we are very loath to believe what we are not able to comprehend. ”

The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind, and they are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again. ”

Some people displease with merit, and others' very faults and defects are pleasing. ”