Francois de La Rochefoucauld

Some accidents there are in life that a little folly is necessary to help us out of.

There are very few things impossible in themselves; and we do not want means to conquer difficulties so much as application and resolution in the use of means.

Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.

Our concern for the loss of our friends is not always from a sense of their worth, but rather of our own need of them and that we have lost some who had a good opinion of us.

We are never so ridiculous through what we are as through what we pretend to be.

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