“To succeed in the world we do everything we can to appear successful already.”

— François de La Rochefoucauld, Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims, Maxim 56, 1665–1678

About François de La Rochefoucauld

1613 – 1680

French moralist, author of the "Maxims" (1665).

“Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on.”

“Our virtues are most frequently but vices in disguise.”

“Self-love is the greatest of all flatterers.”

“Some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon 'em.”

“Prosperity is the best protector of principle.”

“Ambition has its disappointments to sour us, but never the good fortune to satisfy us.”

“The trouble about trying to make yourself stupider than you really are is that you very often succeed.”

“The long, dull monotonous years of middle-aged prosperity or middle-aged adversity are excellent campaigning weather.”

“In all things success depends on previous preparation, and without such previous preparation there is sure to be failure.”