The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
To establish oneself in the world, one does all one can to seem established there already.
Interpretation
What this quote means
The quote suggests that people often adopt a facade of success to appear more established or accepted in society.
Francois De La Rochefoucauld points out the human tendency to project a sense of stability and success in order to gain social acceptance and credibility. This behavior reflects a deeper understanding of social dynamics, as individuals often feel pressured to conform to the expectations of others, sometimes leading to a disconnection between their actual circumstances and the image they portray.
Themes
AppearanceSuccessSocietyAcceptanceImage
In practice
Example use cases
In a speech about personal branding, one might say this quote to highlight the importance of managing perceptions.
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.
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.
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