"To know how to hide one's ability is great skill"
- Francois de La Rochefoucauld
About this Quote
This quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld talks to the importance of humility and discretion. Knowing how to hide one's ability is an excellent ability due to the fact that it enables us to remain humble and not be boastful about our achievements. It likewise allows us to be more tactical in how we utilize our skills and abilities. By not flaunting our skills, we can use them to our advantage in a more subtle way. We can likewise utilize our skills to assist others without drawing attention to ourselves. Concealing our capabilities can also assist us to stay focused on our goals and not be distracted by the praise and recognition that can feature showing off our talents. Knowing how to conceal one's ability is a great skill because it enables us to remain humble and use our skills in a more strategic and advantageous way.
"To be really great in little things, to be truly noble and heroic in the insipid details of everyday life, is a virtue so rare as to be worthy of canonization"
"Having soon discovered to be great, I must appear so, and therefore studiously avoided mixing in society, and wrapped myself in mystery, devoting my time to fasting and prayer"