Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

It is the nature of men to be bound by the benefits they confer as much as by those they receive.

It seems like the first law of Nature is that everybody likes to receive things, but nobody likes to feel grateful.

It is well known to all great men, that by conferring an obligation they do not always procure a friend, but are certain of creating many enemies.

There is a pleasure in meeting the glance of a person whom we have lately laid under some obligations.

The nature of man is such that people consider themselves put under an obligation as much by the benefits they confer as by those they receive.

I am convinced by a sad experience that it is natural to avoid those to whom we have been too much obliged, and that uncommon generosity causes neglect rather than gratitude.

I can forgive injuries, but never benefits.

At one store, Gansey had started to pay for Blue's potato chips and she'd snatched them away. "I don't want you to buy me food!" Blue said. "If you pay for it, then it's like I'm... be---be---" "Beholden to me?" Gansey suggested pleasantly. "Don't put words into my mouth." "It was your word." "You assumed it was my word. You can't just go around assuming." "But that is what you meant, isn't it?" She scowled. "I'm done with this conversation.

We may not return the affection of those who like us, but we always respect their good judgment.

To whom much is given, much is required - not expected, but required.

To make oneself hated is more difficult than to make oneself loved.

I get mad when people give me presents. I don't want them, I don't need them.

Men regard it as their right to return evil for evil—and if they cannot, feel they have lost their liberty.

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.

We often forgive those who bore us, but we cannot forgive those whom we bore.

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

It's crazy how we always hate the things closest to us.

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

This is the law of benefits between men; the one ought to forget at once what was given, and the other ought never to forget what he has received.

All men, or most men, wish what is noble but choose what is profitable; and while it is noble to render a service not with an eye to receiving one in return, it is profitable to receive one. One ought therefore, if one can, to return the equivalent of services received, and to do so willingly; for one ought not to make a man one's friend if one is unwilling to return his favors.

A man seldom finds people unthankful, as long as he remains in a condition of benefiting them further.

A refined nature is vexed by knowing that some one owes it thanks, a coarse nature by knowing that it owes thanks to some one.

gratitude, n. A sentiment lying midway between a benefit received and a benefit expected.

We should wipe two words from our vocabulary: gratitude and charity. In real life, help is given out of friendship, or it is not valued; it is received from the hand of friendship, or it is resented.