Absence diminishes commonplace passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and kindles fire.

L'absence diminue les médiocres passions et augmente les grandes, comme le vent éteint les bougies et allume le feu.

François de La Rochefoucauld [François VI, Duc de la Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac]

Buy Reflections at Amazon Buy Reflections at Amazon
Read Reflection at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Absence

Author

François de La Rochefoucauld [François VI, Duc de la Rochefoucauld, Prince de Marcillac]

Source

Reflections

Medium

Epigram

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

French

Time

1678 1670s 17th century

Occupation

Writer

From

France Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

La Rochefoucauld, Francois. Reflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims]. c. 1665.

Current Citation

La Rochefoucauld, Francois. Collected Maxims and Other Reflections, translated by E. H. and A. M. Blackmore and Francine Giguere. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by François de La Rochefoucauld about absence: “Absence diminishes commonplace passions and increases great…”
Download
A quote by François de La Rochefoucauld about absence: “Absence diminishes commonplace passions and increases great…”
Download
A quote by François de La Rochefoucauld about absence: “Absence diminishes commonplace passions and increases great…”
Download

Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote from the 1670s

If I have seen further it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.

Isaac Newton

More information about this quote
Topic
Scientific progress Progress

Author

Isaac Newton
Source
Letters of Isaac Newton
Medium
Letter
Language
English
Time
1676 1670s 17th century
Authentication Score 1
Original Citation

Newton, Isaac. Letter to Robert Hooke. 5 Feb. 1676.

Current Citation

Newton, Isaac. Letter to Hooke, 5 February 1675/6." The Correspondence of Isaac Newton. Vol. 1, Cambridge University Press, 2008.

Another quote originally in French

Never interrupt your enemy when he's making a mistake.

Napoleon Bonaparte

More information about this quote
Topic
Military strategy

Author

Napoleon Bonaparte
Source
History of Europe
Language
French
Time
1805 1800s 19th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Bonaparte, Napoleon. Quoted in History of Europe from the Commencement of the French Revolution in 1789 to the Restoration of the Bourbons in 1815, written by Archibald Alison. Vol. 5, Paris: Baudry's European Library, 1841.

Another quote of the following type Metaphor, analogy and simile

Was ever book containing such vile matter
So fairly bound? O, that deceit should dwell
In such a gorgeous palace!

William Shakespeare

Buy Romeo and Juliet at Amazon Buy Romeo and Juliet at Amazon
Read Romeo and Juliet at The Folger Shakespeare Library
More information about this quote
Topic
Beauty is skin deep Looks are deceiving Beauty Appearance vs. reality
Speaker
Juliet Capulet

Author

William Shakespeare
Genre
Tragedy (play)
Statement Type
Question Metaphor, analogy and simile
Language
English
Time
1597 1590s 16th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. Romeo and Juliet. London: John Danter, 1597, act 3, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Romeo and Juliet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 3, sc. 2.