François de la Rochefoucauld

Born in Paris in 1613, François de La Rochefoucauld was a French nobleman, soldier, memoirist, and moralist. He lived through the political struggles of his time, including noble rebellions known as the Fronde, and those experiences helped shape his skeptical view of power, society, and human motives.

He is most famous for Maximes (Reflections or Sentences and Moral Maxims), a collection of concise observations on pride, friendship, love, virtue, and self-interest. The book made him one of the classic voices of French literature, admired for turning complicated truths about human nature into elegant, unforgettable sentences.

La Rochefoucauld died in 1680, but his writing has lasted because it is so direct and readable. Even centuries later, his aphorisms still invite readers to pause, argue, and recognize a little of themselves in his insights.