After abandoning politics when he was about forty, François, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) began to write down his maxims, which were first published in book form in 1665. Poetic, ironic, and frequently humorous, his wise observations can also be blunt and brutally candid:Everyone blames his memory, no one his judgment.Gratitude is merely the secret hope of further favors.It is often merely for an excuse that we say things areimpossibleWe rarely thi...

The philosophy of La Rochefoucauld, which influenced French intellectuals as diverse as Voltaire and the Jansenists, is captured here in more than 600 penetrating and pithy aphorisms.

“Maxims and Reflections” is a collection of wisdom and advice by Francois Duc de La Rochefoucauld, a noted French aristocrat, soldier and author. La Rochefoucauld was born in 1613 in Paris to a wealthy family and was well-educated in the traditional aristocratic studies of the time, which included military history, court etiquette, hunting, proper dress, comportment, and world relations. He took an active interest in public and political issues at a young age and was well-known during his ...

There’s no fool like an old fool....The world is full of pots calling kettles black....We can no more set a term to our passions than to our life.These are just three of the aphorisms that made the collection of maxims by François, Duc de la Rochefoucauld, an enduring influence upon succeeding generations following their initial publication in 1665. The effect continued up to the present day - his admirers have included figures as varied as Lord Chesterfield, Thomas...

According to Wikipedia: "François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld, prince de Marcillac (September 15, 1613 March 17, 1680), was a noted French author of maxims and memoirs, as well as an example of the accomplished 17th-century nobleman. He was born in Paris in the Rue des Petits Champs, at a time when the royal court oscillated between aiding the nobility and threatening it. Until 1650, he bore the title of prince de Marcillac."

These maxims of the French Duc remain one of the best books of its kind and have been translated into many languages and frequently into English. The present edition by John Heard noted translator of Ronsard von Hofmannsthal Clemenceau and others was originally published by Houghton Miflfin and long since out-of-print. It is issued complete and unabridged including the Sketch of the Author written by himself.

"Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims" by François duc de La Rochefoucauld is a profound collection of aphorisms that delve into the complexities of human nature and social behavior. La Rochefoucauld's keen observations reveal the often contradictory motivations behind people's actions, highlighting themes of vanity, self-interest, and the intricacies of relationships. His concise and impactful style invites readers to reflect on their own experiences and the moral fabric of society,...

"1100 Quotations from the Great French Writers of the 19th Century" is a wonderful collection of wit and wisdom from some of the greatest French writers ever.From Guy de Maupassant and Honoré de Balzac to Victor Hugo and Alexandre Dumas, this carefully crafted collection is guaranteed to inspire and entertain.Ideal for those needing a dose of encouragement.

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld was a seventeenth century moralist, who became the leading exponent of the ‘maxime’, a French literary form of epigram that expresses a harsh or paradoxical truth with brevity. He muses on honour, fate, friendship, love and the human tendency for self-delusion. His experience with the royal court during the Fronde influenced his thinking immensely. An exemplar of the older noblesse, La Rochefoucauld influenced numerous philosophers and men of le...

Reflections; Or Sentences And Moral Maxim by Francois Duc De LaRochefoucauld.

Extrait : J’ai passé les dernières années du ministère du cardinal Mazarin dans l’oisiveté que laisse d’ordinaire ladisgrâce : pendant ce temps, j’ai écrit ce que j’ai vu des troubles de la Régence. Bien que ma fortune soit changée,je ne jouis pas d’un moindre loisir : j’ai voulu l’employer à écrire des événements plus éloignés, où le hasard m’asouvent donné quelque part.J’entrai dans le monde quelque temps devant la disgrâce de la Reine mère, Marie de Médicis. ...

In "Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims," François duc de La Rochefoucauld presents a profound exploration of human behavior, morality, and the intricacies of social interactions through succinct, epigrammatic insights. Written in the 17th century and emerging from the backdrop of the French Renaissance, the work reflects a keen psychological acuity, employing a distinctive literary style that blends wit and observation. La Rochefoucauld's maxims articulate the complex interplay bet...