"People that are conceited of their own merit take pride in being unfortunate, that themselves and others may think them considerable enough to be the envy and the mark of fortune"

This quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld speaks with the concept of people who are overly happy with their own accomplishments and get a kick out of misery. These people are so arrogant of their own benefit that they believe they deserve envy and the attention of fortune. They take pride in being unfortunate, as they believe it will make them appear more crucial and noteworthy. This quote is a tip that pride can be a harmful thing, as it can cause individuals seeking out misfortune in order to make themselves appear more crucial. It likewise acts as an alerting to those who are excessively happy with their own achievements, as it suggests that they need to be careful not to let their pride lead them to seek out bad luck.