Reflections or Sentences and Moral Maxims, by Duke Fran蔞is de la Rochefoucauld is the most simple, direct and profound non-fiction book among all the books I have been able to read to date. I have allowed myself the luxury of re-editing the 1827 translation by J. W. Willis Bund, correcting expressions and vocabulary that caused some confusion and distance from the original version.
With this collection of reflections and moral maxims the Second Duke de La Rochefoucauld undoubtedly crowns himself as one of the greatest exponents of sociology and psychology of his century and the centuries to come.
Despite the fact that it is 400 years since the publication of this work, all his maxims are so accurate that it is difficult to find a single one of them whose veracity can be doubted today.
These are the maxims that appear on the cover of the book:
THERE IS GREAT TALENT IN KNOWING HOW TO CONCEAL ONE'S OWN TALENT
WE MAKE A VIRTUE OUT OF THE VICES WE CANNOT CORRECT
SOME REPROACHES PRAISE; SOME PRAISE REPROACH
WE PROMISE OUT OF HOPE; WE FULFILL OUT OF FEAR THE EVIL WE DO ATTRACTS LESS HATRED THAN OUR VIRTUES
THE ONE WHO ADMIRES US IS ALWAYS LIKED; THE ONE WE ADMIRE IS NOT ALWAYS LIKED
THERE ARE MORE PEOPLE WITHOUT SELF-LOVE THAN WITHOUT ENVY
THERE ARE VERY FEW SENSIBLE PEOPLE; ONLY THOSE WHO SHARE OUR OPINION
I hope you enjoy it!
