216 quotes
We always like those who admire us; we do not always like those whom we admire.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
We are never so happy, nor so unhappy, as we suppose ourselves to be.
We can never be certain of our courage until we have faced danger.
A man will often believe himself a leader when he is led; while with his mind he endeavours to reach one goal, his heart insensibly drags him toward another.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
Friendship is only a reciprocal conciliation of interests, and an exchange of good offices; it is a species of commerce out of which self-love always expects to gain something.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
Too great a hurry to be discharged of an obligation is a kind of ingratitude.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
Preserving the health by too strict a regimen is a wearisome malady.
Il y a des reproches qui louent et des louanges qui médisent.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.
The defects and faults in 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.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
Coquetry is the essential characteristic, and the prevalent humor of women; but they do not all practise it, because the coquetry of some it restrained by fear or by reason.
We are eager to believe that others are flawed because we are eager to believe in what we wish for.
The confidence which we have in ourselves gives birth to much of that which we have in others.
There are people who would never be in love had they not heard [others] speak of love
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
What often prevents us from abandoning ourselves to one vice is that we have several.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
The qualities we have do not make us so ridiculous as those which we affect to have.
If we had no faults, we should not take so much pleasure in noting those of others.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
If we resist our passions, it is more through their weakness than our strength.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)
How can we expect others to keep our secrets if we cannot keep them ourselves?
We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.
Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)