"There is an air which belongs to the figure and talents of each individual; we always lose it when we abandon it to assume another. We should try to find out what air is natural to us and never abandon it, but make it as perfect as we can. This is the reason that the majority of children please. It is because they are wrapt up in the air and manner nature has given them, and are ignorant of any other. They are changed and corrupted when they quit infancy, they think they should imitate what they see, and they are not altogether able to imitate it. In this imitation there is always something of falsity and uncertainty. They have nothing settled in their manner and opinions. Instead of being in reality what they want to appear, they seek to appear what they are not."
Quote Details
Added by wikiquote-import-bot
Unverified quote
0 likes
Original Language: English
Available Languages (1)
Sources
Imported from EN Wikiquote
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Fran%C3%A7ois_de_La_Rochefoucauld
Revision History
No revisions have been submitted for this quote.
Categories
François de La Rochefoucauld
196 quotes on TrueQuotesView all quotes by François de La Rochefoucauld →
Related Quotes
"We do not despise all those who have vices, but we do despise those that have no virtue."
"On donne des conseils mais on n'inspire point de conduite."
"Nous n'avouons de petits défauts que pour persuader que nous n'en avons pas de grands."
"La jalousie naît toujours avec l'amour, mais elle ne meurt pas toujours avec lui."
"Les esprits médiocres condamnent d'ordinaire tout ce qui passe leur portée."
"Le plus grand défaut de la pénétration n'est pas de n'aller point jusqu'au but, c'est de le passer."
"Nous ne trouvons guère de gens de bon sens, que ceux qui sont de notre avis."
"On pardonne tant que l'on aime."
"Ce qui nous donne tant d’aigreur contre ceux qui nous font des finesses, c’est qu’ils croient être plus habiles que n…"
"Il y a peu d'honnêtes femmes qui ne soient lasses de leur métier."