Happiness as Taste
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Maxims

Happiness is defined as a subjective experience rooted in personal preference rather than the objective value of possessions or social consensus.

Happiness is in the taste, and not in the things themselves; we are happy from possessing what we like, not from possessing what others like.
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Faithfulness as Betrayal
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Maxims

The internal effort required to maintain fidelity suggests a lack of genuine devotion that is nearly equivalent to betrayal.

The struggle we undergo to remain faithful to one we love is little better than infidelity.
2
The Affectation Trap
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Maxims

The author posits that true absurdity arises not from our natural habits, but from the artificial personas and behaviors we consciously attempt to project.

We are never so ridiculous from the habits we have as from those that we affect to have.
5
The World's Stage
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Maxims

A vision of society as a theatrical performance where individuals adopt personas to appear as they wish to be seen rather than as they are.

In all professions we affect a part and an appearance to seem what we wish to be. Thus the world is merely composed of actors.
2
Authenticity's Advantage
Francois de La Rochefoucauld
Maxims

The author argues that authenticity is more beneficial than pretense, as the effort to maintain a false image is less rewarding than being seen as one truly is.

We should gain more by letting the world see what we are than by trying to seem what we are not.
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