Skip to content
quotesby

About this quote

What does it mean?
Vice acknowledges virtue by pretending to value it, showing that even bad behavior recognizes good behavior as superior.
In plain terms
Even bad people pretend to respect good things.
What can you take from it?
Hypocrisy confirms the value of virtue.

Where it applies

  • ethical discussions
  • social observations
  • character analysis

Putting it to work

  • analyze motives
  • identify fake praise
  • reflect on values

Questions to consider

  • When do you fake respect for something?
  • Is hypocrisy always bad?

Another view

Not all praise of virtue is hypocritical; some is genuine.

More from Francois de La Rochefoucauld

  1. La plupart des gens ne jugent des hommes que par la vogue qu'ils ont, ou par leur fortune.

    Permalink to quote #61

  2. Le trop grand empressement qu'on a de s'acquitter d'une obligation est une espece d'ingratitude.

    Permalink to quote #63

  3. En vieillissant on devient plus fou et plus sage.

    Permalink to quote #60

Related quotes

  1. The wicked are wicked, no doubt, and they go astray and they fall, and they come by their deserts: but who can tell the mischief which the very virtuous do?

    William Makepeace ThackerayWilliam Makepeace Thackeray quote #5

  2. The greatest minds are capable of the greatest vices as well as of the greatest virtues.

    Rene DescartesRene Descartes quote #8

  3. I find that the best goodness I have has some tincture of vice.

    Michel de MontaigneMichel de Montaigne quote #35