Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

Most people return small favors, acknowledge medium ones and repay greater ones - with ingratitude.

To remind a man of the good turns you have done him is very much like a reproach.

It shows nobility to be willing to increase your debt to a man to whom you already owe much.

It is not polite to receive a favor without returning it.

When people help me out, even with something like a move or a ride to the airport, I'm always thinking 'Are you sure it's okay? Are you sure you don't mind?'

I look upon it as a Point of Morality, to be obliged by those who endeavour to oblige me.

There is nothing that puts a man more in your debt than that he owes you nothing.

Too great haste to repay an obligation is a kind of ingratitude.

Great indebtedness does not make men grateful, but vengeful; and if a little charity is not forgotten, it turns into a gnawing worm.

We secure our friends not by accepting favors but by doing them.

He that has done you a kindness will be more ready to do you another, than he whom you yourself have obliged.

The man who has received a benefit ought always to remember it, but he who has granted it ought to forget the fact at once.

One good turn deserves another.

A great many men's gratitude is nothing but a secret desire to hook in more valuable kindnesses hereafter.

From where I came from, the way I was raised, when somebody does something for you, you always want to give something back to them.

There's certain people that you owe it to, for the things they've done for you.

We are better pleased to see those on whom we confer benefits than those from whom we receive them.

The person, whom you favored with a loan, if he be a good man, will think himself in your debt after he has paid you.

That he who hath the loan of money has not repaid it, and he who has repaid has not the loan; but he who has acknowledged a kindness has it still, and he who has a feeling of it has requited it.

I never forget those who do me a favor, and I never forget those who don't!

"I believe that no characteristic is so distinctively human as the sense of indebtedness we feel, not necessarily for a favor received, but even for the slightest evidence of kindness; and there is nothing so boorish, savage, inhuman as to appear to be overwhelmed by a favor, let alone unworthy of it."

Everyone takes pleasure in returning small obligations, many people acknowledge moderate ones; but there are only a scarce few who do not pay great ones with ingratitude.

You cannot ensure the gratitude of others for a favour conferred upon them in the way which is most agreeable to yourself.

We are never quits with those who oblige us," was Dantes' reply; "for when we do not owe them money, we owe them gratitude.

There is no duty more obligatory than the repayment of kindness.