The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
What is called generosity is usually only the vanity of giving; we enjoy the vanity more than the thing given.
Interpretation
What this quote means
True generosity often comes from a desire for self-importance rather than the act of giving itself.
In this quote, Francois De La Rochefoucauld suggests that what we often perceive as generosity is masked by our own pride and the pleasure we derive from being seen as generous. This reflection prompts us to question the authenticity of our altruistic actions, indicating that our motivations may be more self-serving than we realize. It urges us to contemplate whether our acts of giving are sincere or if they are merely a means to boost our self-esteem.
Themes
GenerosityVanityGivingSelfishnessAltruism
In practice
Example use cases
In a discussion about the true motivations behind charitable actions.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
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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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