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• It seems that nature has concealed at the bottom of our minds, talents and abilities of which we are not aware.
  The passions alone have the privilege of bringing them to light, and of giving us sometimes views more certain and more perfect than art could possible produce....
• We would often be ashamed of our finest actions if the world understood all the motives which produced them.
  -- Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld...
• There is scarcely an occurrence in nature which, happening at a certain time, is not looked upon by some persons as a prognosticator either of good or evil.
  The latter are in the greatest number, so much more ingenious are we in tormenting ourselves than in discovering reasons for enjoyment in the things that surround us....
• Ability wins us the esteem of the true men; luck that of the people.
  -- Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld...
• Our desires always disappoint us; for though we meet with something that gives us satisfaction, yet it never thoroughly answers our expectation.
  -- Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld...
• Wit sometimes enables us to act rudely with impunity. -- Francois, Duc de La Rochefoucauld
• The more we love, the nearer we are to hate. -- Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld
• It is easier to appear worthy of a position one does not hold, than of the office which one fills.
  -- Duc de La Rochefoucauld...
• Weakness of character is the only defect which cannot be amended.
  -- Francois Duc de la Rochefoucauld...