Francois de La Rochefoucauld Quotes

Passion often makes a fool of the cleverest man and often makes the most foolish men clever

For passion, be it observed, brings insight with it; it can give a sort of intelligence to simpletons, fools, and idiots, especially during youth.

A fine quotation is a diamond in the hand of a man of wit and a pebble in the hand of a fool.

Passion often renders the most clever man a fool, and sometimes renders the most foolish man clever.

The dullness of the fool is the whetstone of the wits.

I will keep where there is wit stirring, and leave the faction of fools.

Remember that the greatest fool in the world may ask more than the wisest man can answer.

I've never met a funny person who wasn't smart. I've met a lot of dramatic people who were stupid. But I've never met a funny person who wasn't smart.

All grand thoughts come from the heart.

Better a witty fool than a foolish wit.

Love is the wisdom of the fool and the folly of the wise.

Have you noticed that the imbecile always smiles? Man's first frown is the first touch of God on his forehead. The touch of thought.

Wit does not take the place of knowledge.

You can't be wise without being intelligent, but you certainly can be intelligent without being wise.

I have met with some of them - very honest fellows, who, with all their stupidity, had a kind of intelligence and an upright good sense, which cannot be the characteristics of fools.

Wit is an explosion of the compound spirit.

What a grand thing it is to be clever and have common sense.

I hate clever-cleverness, but I love good honest cleverness.

Anger dwells only in the bosom of fools.

They declaim against the passions without bothering to think that it is from their flame philosophy lights its torch.

The seat of knowledge is in the head; of wisdom, in the heart. We are sure to judge wrong, if we do not feel right.

The more wit the less courage.

Rational thoughts never drive people's creativity the way emotions do.

You cannot fashion a wit out of two half-wits.

Cunning... is but the low mimic of wisdom.