“ The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others. ”
François de La Rochefoucauld, Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims (1665). copy citation
| Author | François de La Rochefoucauld |
|---|---|
| Source | Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims |
| Topic | knowledge humility deception |
| Date | 1665 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by J. W. Willis Bund |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/9105/9105-h/9105-h.htm |
Context
“125.—The daily employment of cunning marks a little mind, it generally happens that those who resort to it in one respect to protect themselves lay themselves open to attack in another.
["With that low cunning which in fools supplies, And amply, too, the place of being wise." Churchill, Rosciad, 117.]
126.—Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity.
127.—The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others.
128.—Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness.
129.—It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.” source
["With that low cunning which in fools supplies, And amply, too, the place of being wise." Churchill, Rosciad, 117.]
126.—Cunning and treachery are the offspring of incapacity.
127.—The true way to be deceived is to think oneself more knowing than others.
128.—Too great cleverness is but deceptive delicacy, true delicacy is the most substantial cleverness.
129.—It is sometimes necessary to play the fool to avoid being deceived by cunning men.” source
Meaning and analysis
