"Repentance is not so much remorse for what we have done as the fear of the consequences"

This quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld recommends that repentance is not always a genuine feeling of remorse for our actions, however rather a fear of the consequences of our actions. This indicates that individuals may not always be sorry for their misbehaviors, however rather they are more worried about the consequences of their actions. This could be interpreted as a lack of true regret, as people might be more concentrated on preventing punishment than on really pitying their errors. This might also be seen as a form of self-preservation, as individuals might be more worried with safeguarding themselves from the repercussions of their actions than with really reflecting on their wrongdoings. Eventually, this quote suggests that repentance is not always an authentic feeling of remorse, however rather a fear of the repercussions of our actions.