"We should often feel ashamed of our best actions if the world could see all the motives which produced them"
- Francois de La Rochefoucauld
About this Quote
This quote by Francois de La Rochefoucauld recommends that our best actions may not be as noble as they appear on the surface area. He suggests that if the world might see the true motives behind our actions, we would be ashamed of them. This might suggest that we are often inspired by selfishness or vanity, instead of by altruism or altruism. It might likewise indicate that we are motivated by a desire for acknowledgment or approval, instead of by a real desire to assist others. In either case, the quote recommends that our best actions may not be as pure as we would like to believe. It is a tip to be mindful of our motivations and to strive to act out of genuine generosity and empathy.
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