The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
People's personalities, like buildings, have various facades, some pleasant to view, some not.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People present themselves in different ways, sometimes hiding their true nature.
This quote by Francois De La Rochefoucauld suggests that just as buildings have exteriors that can be appealing or unappealing, so too do people have outward personalities that may not reflect their true selves. The comparison highlights the complexity of human nature and the façades individuals create to navigate social interactions.
Themes
PersonalityFacadeHuman NatureAppearanceTruth
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about mental health to emphasize understanding people beyond their surface.
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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