Interest, upon which we commonly lay the Blame of all our ill Actions, oftentimes deserves the commendation due to our Good ones.

[L’intérêt, que l’on accuse de tous nos crimes, mérite souvent d’être loué de nos bonnes actions.]

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613-1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶305 (1665-1678) [tr. Stanhope (1694)]
    (Source)

This first appeared in the 3rd (1671) edition. See also ¶187, ¶253.

(Source (French)). Other translations:

Interest, which is accused of all our crimes, often deserves to be praised for our good actions.
[ed. Gowens (1851), ¶315]

Interest, which is accused of all our misdeeds, often should be praised for our good deeds.
[tr. Bund/Friswell (1871), ¶305]

Self-interest, to which are ascribed all our crimes, should frequently be given the credit for our good deeds.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957), ¶305]

Selfishness, which we blame for all our crimes, often deserves to be praised for our good deeds.
[tr. Kronenberger (1959), ¶305]

Self-interest, blamed for all our misdeeds, often deserves credit for our good actions.
[tr. Tancock (1959), ¶305]

Self-interest, which commonly takes the blame for all our crimes, often deserves praise for producing our good actions.
[tr. Whichello (2016) ¶305]


 
Added on 31-Jul-26 | Last updated 31-Jul-26
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