The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Everyone complains of his memory, and nobody complains of his judgment.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often criticize their ability to remember things while overlooking the importance of making wise decisions.
This quote highlights a common human tendency to focus on our shortcomings in memory instead of acknowledging the greater concern of our judgment. It suggests that while many are preoccupied with recalling events or information, fewer people reflect on the quality of their decisions, which can have a more significant impact on their lives.
Themes
MemoryJudgmentWisdomDecisionsComplaints
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about self-improvement, one might reference this quote to encourage others to focus on their decision-making skills.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
All quotes βOld men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.
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Some counterfeits reproduce so very well the truth that it would be a flaw of judgment not to be deceived by them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
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.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
To understand matters rightly we should understand their details; and as that knowledge is almost infinite, our knowledge is always superficial and imperfect.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
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