Famous quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld

"Perfect courage is to do without witnesses what one would be capable of doing with the world looking on"

About this Quote

True courage extends beyond the reach of admiration or the threat of criticism. When every eye is removed and one stands alone, the question becomes not what others expect or how others will react, but what values truly guide one’s actions. The suggestion here is that authentic bravery is measured by one’s willingness to act with integrity even when there is no hope of recognition or praise.

Motivation often fluctuates depending on whether actions are public or private. Many naturally become more inclined to act heroically, honestly, or generously if others are there to witness and affirm the action. Social approval serves as a powerful motivator, at times overshadowing the deeper ethical motivations within ourselves. Yet this form of courage is conditional, reliant on the presence or perceptions of others. It implies that the core driver is not steadfast character, but reputation.

La Rochefoucauld challenges the authenticity of externally motivated virtues by proposing a simple test: could one behave with the same boldness, integrity, and resolve in utter solitude, without anyone to observe, applaud, or critique? If the answer is yes, one’s courage is perfect, untainted by ego or the desire for external validation. It is internal rather than performative, rooted in conviction rather than opportunism.

Perfect courage, then, is founded on self-discipline and authenticity. It requires confronting one’s own fears, doubts, and desires for approval, and choosing to act nobly regardless of the presence or absence of an audience. This courage is quiet, undramatic, and unglamorous, but it is there, in solitude and silence, that the most honest measure of bravery is revealed. The world may see or not see, but the standard does not shift; the courage remains whole, unbroken by circumstance or company, answering only to one’s truest sense of right.

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About the Author

Francois de La Rochefoucauld This quote is from Francois de La Rochefoucauld between September 15, 1613 and March 17, 1680. He was a famous Writer from France. The author also have 172 other quotes.
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