The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Counterfeits can be so convincing that it's a sign of poor judgment to not be fooled by them.
This quote reflects on the nature of deception and truth, suggesting that some imitations are so skillful that recognizing them as false requires a level of discernment. It highlights the complexity of human perception, where the lines between authenticity and imitation can often blur, leading one to question the essence of truth itself.
Themes
DeceptionTruthJudgmentPerceptionImitation
In practice
Example use cases
During a philosophical debate about reality, one might use this quote to illustrate the challenge of discerning truth from appearances.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
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The defects and faults of the mind are like wounds in the body; after all imaginable care has been taken to heal them up, still there will be a scar left behind, and they are in continual danger of breaking the skin and bursting out again.
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To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
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In most of mankind gratitude is merely a secret hope of further favors.
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