The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
When fortune surprises us by giving us some great office without having gradually led us to expect it, or without having raised our hopes, it is well nigh impossible to occupy it well, and to appear worthy to fill it.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Unexpected fortune can make it difficult to fulfill new responsibilities.
This quote reflects on the challenges of suddenly receiving a significant position or responsibility without prior preparation. When fortune brings about unexpected opportunities, it can lead to feelings of inadequacy and pressure to prove oneself, as the individual may not have had time to adjust their expectations or mindset for such a role.
Themes
FortuneResponsibilitySurpriseOpportunitySuccess
In practice
Example use cases
During a commencement speech to highlight the unpredictability of success.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
All quotes →Old men delight in giving good advice as a consolation for the fact that they can no longer set bad examples.
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Conceit causes more conversation than wit.
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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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