The generality of virtuous women are like hidden treasures, they are safe only because nobody has sought after them.
Francois De La RochefoucauldRead
We torment ourselves rather to make it appear that we are happy than to become so.
Interpretation
What this quote means
People often pretend to be happy to avoid confronting their true feelings.
This quote suggests that individuals can sometimes choose to focus on the appearance of happiness rather than addressing their real emotions and seeking genuine joy. It highlights the tendency of people to self-torment and maintain facades, which can hinder true emotional well-being.
Themes
HappinessAppearanceEmotionAuthenticitySelf-Torment
In practice
Example use cases
This quote can be used in a discussion about mental health in a public seminar.
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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We never repent of having eaten too little.
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Happiness is an expression of the soul in considered actions.
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One of the things psychologists used to say was that if you are depressed, anxious or angry, you couldn't be happy. Those were at opposite ends of a continuum. I believe that you can be suffering or have a mental illness and be happy - just not in the same moment that you're sad.
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Look, really look, at how beautiful this day is. Let go of the worries and anxieties and judgments, and see the beauty.
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Action may not always bring happiness; but there is no happiness without action.
Benjamin DisraeliRead