Project Gutenberg 2005-10-01 Public domain in the USA. 3863 La Rochefoucauld, François duc de 1613 1680 Rochefoucauld, François duc de la La Rochefoucauld, Francois duc de Friswell, J. Hain (James Hain) 1825 1878 Friswell, James Hain Friswell, Hain Willis Bund, J. W. (John William) 1843 1928 Bund, J. W. Willis (John William Willis) Willis-Bund, John William Bund Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims Produced by An Anonymous Volunteer, and David Widger "Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims" by François duc de La Rochefoucauld is a collection of aphorisms and moral observations composed during the 17th century. This work is renowned for its keen insights into human nature, particularly the complex interplay of self-interest, vanity, and virtue. Rochefoucauld's maxims delve into topics like love, jealousy, pride, and the often hypocritical nature of societal etiquette, showcasing a cynicism that reflects the realities of court life in his era. The opening portion of the text begins with the translator's note, emphasizing the need for a complete English edition of Rochefoucauld's thoughts, as previous translations often overlooked the depth and subtleties of his work. The introduction discusses the cultural context of 17th-century France, noting the popularity of epigrammatic literature and Rochefoucauld's unique position within it. As readers are drawn in, they encounter the first aphorisms that introduce central themes: the duplicity of virtues, the manipulative nature of self-love, and the complex motivations behind human actions. This portion sets the stage for an exploration of human psychology that is both timeless and provocative, prompting readers to reflect on their own behaviors and motivations. (This is an automatically generated summary.) Reading ease score: 69.9 (8th & 9th grade). Neither easy nor difficult to read. en Maxims PQ Text Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches Category: French Literature Category: Philosophy & Ethics 344643 2025-08-04T08:05:53.302935 text/html 338272 2013-01-29T13:24:16 text/html 189713 2025-08-04T08:06:02.391854 application/epub+zip 193578 2025-08-04T08:05:56.936892 application/epub+zip 174896 2025-08-04T08:05:55.510886 application/epub+zip 454651 2025-08-04T08:06:06.030818 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 418022 2025-08-04T08:06:01.310929 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 382206 2022-09-04T13:06:46.248092 application/x-mobipocket-ebook 232379 2025-08-04T08:05:52.324916 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 232041 2009-08-09T13:17:40 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 232032 2009-08-09T13:18:00 text/plain; charset=us-ascii 22395 2025-08-04T08:06:06.165831 application/rdf+xml 22434 2025-08-04T08:05:56.052862 image/jpeg 4817 2025-08-04T08:05:55.780884 image/jpeg 87619 2009-08-09T13:18:52 application/octet-stream application/zip 102331 2013-01-29T13:24:16 application/octet-stream application/zip 87543 2009-08-09T13:18:52 application/octet-stream application/zip 185772 2025-08-04T08:05:53.324048 application/octet-stream application/zip Archives containing the RDF files for *all* our books can be downloaded at https://book.klll.cc/wiki/Gutenberg:Feeds#The_Complete_Project_Gutenberg_Catalog en.wikipedia fr.wikipedia en.wikipedia en.wikipedia