Maxims and Reflections

by François de La Rochefoucauld, J W Willis Bund (Translator), J Hain Friswell (Translator)

“Maxims and Reflections” is a collection of wisdom and advice by Francois Duc de La Rochefoucauld, a noted French aristocrat, soldier and author. La Rochefoucauld was born in 1613 in Paris to a wealthy family and was well-educated in the traditional aristocratic studies of the time, which included military history, court etiquette, hunting, proper dress, comportment, and world relations. He took an active interest in public and political issues at a young age and was well-known during his life for his bravery in military campaigns and for his involvement in sophisticated literary circles. In 1665, he published the first volume of his “Maxims” anonymously. These brief and eloquent words of wisdom and advice were quite popular when they first appeared. La Rochefoucauld went on to add and expand on the “Maxims” and published new editions several times throughout his life. The maxims and reflections compiled together in this edition touch on many aspects of life, including love, passion, politics, pride, vanity, sincerity, and the countless quirks of human nature. La Rochefoucauld’s observations are clever and astute and remain as thought-provoking and insightful as when they were first written. This edition follows the translations of J. W. Willis Bund and J. Hain Friswell.

Genres: Philosophy

109 pages, Kindle Edition

Published September 24, 2020

About the author

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François de la Rochefoucauld

François VI, duc de la Rochefoucauld, prince de Marcillac (French: [fʁɑ̃swa d(ə) la ʁɔʃfuko]; 15 September 1613 – 17 March 1680) was a noted French author of maxims and memoirs. It is said that his world-view was clear-eyed and urbane, and that he neither condemned human conduct nor sentimentally celebrated it. Born in Paris on the Rue des Petits Champs, at a time when the royal court was vacillating between aiding the nobility and threatening it, he was considered an exemplar of the accomplished 17th-century nobleman. Until 1650, he bore the title of Prince de Marcillac.