Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims

François, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680), was a noted French moralist and author, celebrated for his incisive wit and keen observations on human behavior. Born into one of France's oldest noble families, La Rochefoucauld played a significant role in the aristocratic life of his times, even engaging in the tumultuous civil wars known as the Fronde. It is from the diversity of his life experiences—which included court life, military career, and the introspection following his retreat from politics—that he distilled the wisdom for his most famous work, 'Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims' (Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales). Published in 1665, and revised and augmented in subsequent editions, this collection of epigrammatic reflections reveals La Rochefoucauld's deeply skeptical view of human nature, positing self-interest and vanity as the underlying drivers of human actions. His philosophy is often seen as a precursor to psychological and moral realism in literature, and his maxims continue to be celebrated for their pithiness and truth to human experience. La Rochefoucauld's literary style is characterized by its brevity, sharpness, and the piercing exploration of the paradoxes of the moral life, exerting an enduring influence on French literature and moral philosophy.