Francois de La Rochefoucauld Raise Quotations

To praise great actions is in some sense to share them.

We sometimes condemn the present, by praising the past; and show our contempt of what is now, by our esteem for what is no more.

Praise is flattery, artful, hidden, delicate, which gratifies differently him who praises and him who is praised. The one takes it as the reward of merit, the other bestows it to show his impartiality and knowledge.

We often select envenomed praise which, by a reaction upon those we praise, shows faults we could not have shown by other means.

Few are sufficiently wise to prefer censure which is useful to praise which is treacherous.

Idleness and fear keeps us in the path of duty, but our virtue often gets the praise.

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

When we disclaim praise, it is only showing our desire to be praised a second time.

Some reproaches praise; some praises reproach.

There are reproaches which praise, and praises which defame.

To praise princes for virtues they do not possess is to insult them without fear of consequences.

The shame that arises from praise which we do not deserve often makes us do things we should otherwise never have attempted.

We do not praise others, ordinarily, but in order to be praised ourselves.

We seldom praise anyone in good earnest, except such as admire us.

Usually we praise only to be praised.

He who refuses praise the first time that it is offered does so because he would hear it a second time.

Criticism sometimes is really praise, and praise sometimes slander.

We do not like to praise, and seldom praise anyone without self-interest.

Generally speaking, we would make a good bargain by renouncing all the good that people say of us, upon condition they would say no ill.

There is no praise we have not lavished upon prudence; and yet she cannot assure to us the most trifling event.

It is praiseworthy even to attempt a great action.

The mark of extraordinary merit is to see those most envious of it constrained to praise.

The desire which urges us to deserve praise strengthens our good qualities, and praise given to wit, valour, and beauty, tends to increase them.

Everyone praises his heart, none dare praise their understanding.