Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and even sometimes renders the most foolish man clever.

— François de La Rochefoucauld Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)

La passion fait souvent un fou du plus habile homme, et rend souvent les plus sots habiles.

Original text (French)

Variants

Passion often makes a fool of the cleverest man and often makes the most foolish men clever.

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)

Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665)

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