The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often show gratitude with ulterior motives, hoping to receive more favors in the future.
This quote suggests that many expressions of gratitude are not entirely sincere; instead, they may be driven by a self-serving agenda where individuals seek to benefit from future acts of kindness. It highlights the complex nature of human relationships, where the motivations behind our actions can be masked by the facade of appreciation.
Themes
GratitudeKindnessRelationshipsSelfishnessMotivation
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about volunteering, one might use this quote to provoke thought about the true nature of giving and gratitude.
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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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