The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
The happiness and unhappiness of men depends as much on their ethics as on fortune.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Our happiness and unhappiness are influenced equally by our moral choices and luck.
This quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld emphasizes that while external factors such as fortune play a significant role in our emotional states, our ethical principles and personal values are equally crucial. It suggests that the way we conduct ourselves and the moral decisions we make can profoundly shape our experiences of happiness and unhappiness, highlighting the interplay between internal character and external circumstances.
Themes
HappinessUnhappinessEthicsFortuneMoral Choices
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal growth, one might use this quote to discuss the importance of ethics.
More from Francois De La Rochefoucauld
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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.
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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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