Natural Freedom

Forum for the natural awakening and self-realization of men
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PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 12:20 am 
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François de La Rochefoucauld:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7 ... d_(writer)

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Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference.

The safest way to be loved, is not to love.

Everybody complains of his memory, but nobody of his judgement.

In all aspects of life, we take on a part and an appearance to seem to be what we wish to be--and thus the world is merely composed of actors.

Few things are needed to make a wise man happy; nothing can make a fool content; that is why most men are miserable.

There are few things we should keenly desire if we really knew what we wanted.

He who imagines he can do without the world deceives himself much; but he who fancies the world cannot do without him is still more mistaken.

Of all our faults, the one that we excuse most easily is idleness.

If we had no faults of our own, we would not take so much pleasure in noticing those of others.

Second-rate minds usually condemn everything beyond their grasp.

Before we set our hearts too much upon anything, let us examine how happy those are who already possess it.

Our envy always lasts longer than the happiness of those we envy.

The only thing constant in life is change

It requires no small degree of ability to know when to conceal it.

The constancy of the wise is only the talent of concealing the agitation of their hearts.

We have more strength than will; and it is often merely for an excuse we say things are impossible.

Sincerity is an openness of heart; we find it in very few people; what we usually see is only an artful dissimulation to win the confidence of others.

The happiness and misery of men depend no less on temper than fortune.

What men term friendship is merely a partnership with a collection of reciprocal interests, and an exchange of favours—in fact it is but a trade in which self love always expects to gain something.

We become so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that at last we are disguised to ourselves.

Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity.

There is near as much ability requisite to know how to make use of good advice, as to know how to act for one´s self.

It is far easier to be wise for others than to be so for oneself.

A man would rather say evil of himself than say nothing.

One reason why we meet with so few people who are reasonable and agreeable in conversation is, that there is scarce anybody who does not think more of what he has to say, than of answering what is said to him.
Even those who have the most address and politeness think they do enough if they only seem to be attentive, at the same time their eyes and their minds betray a distraction as to what is addressed to them, and an impatience to return to what they themselves were saying. Not reflecting that to be thus studious of pleasing themselves is but a poor way of pleasing or convincing others; and that to hear patiently, and answer precisely, are the great perfections of conversation.

We had better appear to be what we are, than affect to appear what we are not.

Everybody takes pleasure in returning small obligations; many go so far as to acknowledge moderate ones; but there is hardly anyone who does not repay great obligations with ingratitude.

We easily forget crimes that are known only to ourselves.

There are people of whom we never believe ill till we see it: but there are none we ought to be surprised at when we do see it.

Those who are themselves incapable of great crimes are not ready to suspect others of them.

We are angry with those who trick us because they appear to have more wit than ourselves.

In love, the deceit almost always outstrips the distrust.

It is much easier to suppress a first desire, than to satisfy those that follow.

Were we to take as much pains to be what we ought, as we do to disguise what we are, we might appear like ourselves, without being at the trouble of any disguise at all.

Our own distrust justifies the deceit of others.

Whatever distrust we may have of the sincerity of other people we always believe that they are more sincere with ourselves than anybody else.

When we are unable to find tranquility within ourselves, it is useless to seek it elsewhere.

True eloquence consists in saying all that is proper, and nothing more.

We need not be much concerned about those faults which we have the courage to own.

We are much nearer loving those who hate us, than those who love us more than we desire.

Nothing is more rare than true goodness; even those who imagine they possess it having nothing more than complaisance or weakness.

It is more difficult to prevent being governed, than to govern others.

The gratitude of most men is only a secret desire to receive greater favours.

We take less pains to be happy, than to appear so.

Idleness is more in the mind than in the body.

Only such persons who avoid giving jealousy are deserving of it.

Jealousy is nourished by doubt; it either becomes madness, or ceases as soon as we arrive at certainty.

In jealousy there is less love than self-love.

Interest speaks all languages, and acts all parts, even that of disinterestedness itself.

In love, those who are first cured are best cured.

There are convenient marriages, but no happy ones.

Narrowness of mind is often the cause of obstinacy: we do not easily believe beyond what we see.

We promise according to our hopes, and perform according to our fears.

We blame ourselves only to extort praise.

We seldom praise but to be praised.

A refusal of praise is a desire to be praised twice.

Naturally to be without envy is a certain indication of great qualities.

We want strength to act up to our reason.

Repentance is not so much remorse for what we have done, as the fear of consequences.

How can we expect that another should keep our secrets, when it is more than we can do ourselves.

We speak little when vanity prompts us not.

As it is the characteristic of great wits to say much in few words; so small wits seem to have the gift of speaking much and saying nothing.

It is our own vanity that makes the vanity of others intolerable.

Our virtues are commonly disguised vices.

Weak people are incapable of sincerity.

If there be a man whose weak side has never been discovered, it is only because we have never accurately looked for it.

Man´s chief wisdom consists in knowing his follies.

The common foible of women who have been handsome, is to forget that they are now no longer so.

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Perfect behavior is born of complete indifference.


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PostPosted: Thu Feb 28, 2013 6:21 am 
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Gently cynic. :mrgreen:

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