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François de La Rochefoucauld

Quote of François de La Rochefoucauld - It is difficult to define love...


Biography - François de La Rochefoucauld:

French moralist, author of maxims and memoirs.
Born: 1613 - Died: 1680
Period:
17th century
Place of birth: France
France

It is difficult to define love; all we can say is, that in the soul it is a desire to rule, in the mind it is a sympathy, and in the body it is a hidden and delicate wish to possess what we love—Plus many mysteries.


Note 

Note



Maxim 68


Source: Reflections, or Sentences and Moral Maxims



Translation

Translation

(French)



French
Il est difficile de définir l’amour. Ce qu’on en peut dire est que dans l’âme c’est une passion de régner, dans les esprits c’est une sympathie, et dans le corps ce n’est qu’une envie cachée et délicate de posséder ce que l’on aime après beaucoup de mystères.




See also 

See also...



We cannot say why. The reason for love is love. The reason for love is that we love.




Quotes for: love


Quotes

Quotes about love:


Where love rules, there is no will to power and where power predominates, there love is lacking. The one is the shadow of the other.





Love, love, all the rest is nothing.





We have need of morality only for want of love.





To live means to love, but above all, to love life.





Intelligence has value only in the service of love.





There is always some madness in love. But there is also always some reason in madness.











Quotes for: soul


Quotes

Quotes about soul:


Science without conscience is only ruin of the soul.





Since love grows within you, so beauty grows. For love is the beauty of the soul.





At any moment you choose you can retire within yourself. Nowhere can man find a quieter or more untroubled retreat than in his own soul.





Do not trouble yourself, make yourself simple.





For souls nobly born valor doesn't await the passing of years.





Let no one be slow to seek wisdom when he is young nor weary in the search thereof when he is grown old. For no age is too early or too late for the health of the soul.











Quotes for: body


Quotes

Quotes for: body


Action is the language of the body and should harmonize with the spirit within.





A healthy mind in a healthy body.





The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.





There is more wisdom in your body than in your deepest philosophy.





Friendship is a single soul dwelling in two bodies.





With most people the heart grows old with the body.











Quotes for: mind


Quotes

Quotes about mind:


Hide your life and spread your spirit.





A healthy mind in a healthy body.





The secret of health for both mind and body is not to mourn for the past, not to worry about the future, or not to anticipate troubles, but to live in the present moment wisely and earnestly.





When the past no longer illuminates the future, the spirit walks in darkness.





It is not enough to have a good mind; the main thing is to use it well.





My spirit yearns for action, my breath for freedom.











Quotes

François de La Rochefoucauld also said...


It is easier to be wise for others than for ourselves.





There is no disguise which can long hide love where it exists, nor feign it where it does not.





If we had no pride we should not complain of that of others.





Philosophy triumphs easily over past evils and future evils; but present evils triumph over it.





Few people know how to be old.





We are never so happy or so unhappy as we suppose.












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