Stanisław I Leszczyński Quotes

Esteem has more engaging charms than friendship, or even love. It captivates hearts better, and never makes ings.

Misers are very kind people: they amass wealth for those who wish their death.

I believe, indeed, that it is more laudable to suffer great misfortunes than to do great things.

Can princes born in palaces be sensible of the misery of those who dwell in cottages?

Gaiety is the soul's health; sadness is its poison.

We are usually mistaken in esteeming men too much; rarely in esteeming them too little.

To believe with certainty, we must begin with doubting.

Genius speaks only to genius.

Conscience warns us as a friend before it punishes us as a judge.

How many persons fancy they have experience simply because they have grown old!

There are few defects in our nature so glaring as not to be veiled from observation by politeness and good-breeding.

Politeness has been defined to be artificial good-nature; but we may affirm, with much greater propriety, that good-nature is natural politeness.

Nothing but religion is capable of changing pains into pleasures.

There are few persons of greater worth than their reputation; but how many are there whose worth is far short of their reputation!

It is hardly possible to suspect another without having in one's self the seeds of baseness the party is accused of.

None are rash when they are not seen by anybody.

Where religion speaks, reason has only a right to hear.

The instability of our tastes is the occasion of the irregularity of our lives.

Is it not astonishing that the love of repose keeps us in continual agitation?

In all sorts of government man is made to believe himself free, and to be in chains.

To be vain of one's rank or place is to show that one is below it.

The Word of God proves the truth of religion; the corruption of man, its necessity; government, its advantages.

He who fears death dies every time he thinks of it.

Those who ought to be secure from calumny are generally those who avoid it least.

Religion has nothing more to fear than not being sufficiently understood.

Reason shows us our duty; he who can make us love our duty is more powerful than reason itself.

The earliest desire of succeeding is almost always a prognostic of success.

When the truth offends no one it should come from our lips as naturally as the air we breathe.

It is having in some measure a sort of wit to know how to use the wit of others.

Affectation discovers sooner what one is than it makes known what one would fain appear to be.

Science when well-digested is nothing but good sense and reason.

To make good use of life, one should have in youth the experience of advanced years, and in old age the vigor of youth.

I know no real worth but that tranquil firmness which seeks dangers by duty, and braves them without rashness.

We rise to fortune by successive steps; we descend by only one.

The strong desire for success is the best indication that you can achieve success.