La Rochefoucauld, Francois -- Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶317 (1665-1678) [tr. Bund/Friswell (1871)]

Dave — Sun, 20 Sep 2026 05:42:08 +0000

’Tis a small misfortune to oblige an ungrateful man; but it is unbearable to be obliged by a scoundrel.

[Ce n’est pas un grand malheur d’obliger des ingrats, mais c’en est un insupportable d’être obligé à un malhonnête homme.]

François VI, duc de La Rochefoucauld (1613–1680) French epigrammatist, memoirist, noble
Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶317 (1665-1678) [tr. Bund/Friswell (1871)]

First present in the 3rd (1671) edition.

(Source (French)). Other translations:

The misfortune of obliging unthankful People is no very great misfortune, but to be obliged to a Knave, is one not to be endured.
[tr. Stanhope (1694), ¶317]

It is no great misfortune to oblige ingrateful people, but an insupportable one to be forced to be under an obligation to a scoundrel.
[pub. Donaldson (1783), ¶251; ed. Lepoittevin-Lacroix (1797), ¶292]

It is no great misfortune to oblige an ungrateful person; but an insupportable one to be under an obligation to a scoundrel.
[ed. Carvill (1835), ¶220]

It is not a great misfortune to oblige ungrateful people, but it is an unsupportable one to be under an obligation to a vulgar man.
[ed. Gowens (1851), ¶327]

It is no great misfortune to put an ingrate under an obligation, but it is very great misfortune to be indebted to a dishonest person.
[tr. Heard (1917), ¶317]

It is no great hardship to meet with ingratitude for our own favours; but intolerable to be indebted for favours to a scoundrel.
[tr. Stevens (1939), ¶317]

Ingratitude from those we have helped is no great misfortune: but to be obligated to a cad is quite intolerable.
[tr. FitzGibbon (1957), ¶317]

It is no great tragedy to do ungrateful people favors, but it is unbearable to be indebted to a scoundrel.
[tr. Kronenberger (1959), ¶317]

It is no great misfortune to have one's kindness repaid by ingratitude, but it is intolerable to be beholden to a scoundrel.
[tr. Tancock (1959), ¶317]

It is no great misfortune to oblige an ungrateful man; but it is unbearable to be obliged to a reprobate.
[tr. Whichello (2016), ¶317]

It is no great misfortune to receive ingratitude for favors we bestow, but it is unbearable to be indebted to a scoundrel.
[tr. Chandler, ¶317]

Scalzi, John -- “Being a Jerk About the Hugos: Not as Effective a Strategy as You Might Think”, Whatever (blog) (24 Aug 2015)

Dave — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 13:48:48 +0000

There is (usually) no crime in performing a jerk maneuver, or acting like a jerk. Everyone can, and has, acted like a jerk from time to time. It’s a regrettable but natural part of the human experience. But most people have the good sense to understand that acting like a jerk should not be a lifestyle choice, and that if you make it one, people will respond to you based on your choices.

John Scalzi (b. 1969) American writer
“Being a Jerk About the Hugos: Not as Effective a Strategy as You Might Think”, Whatever (blog) (24 Aug 2015)

WIST Quotations

La Rochefoucauld, Francois -- Réflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims], ¶317 (1665-1678) [tr. Bund/Friswell (1871)]

Scalzi, John -- “Being a Jerk About the Hugos: Not as Effective a Strategy as You Might Think”, Whatever (blog) (24 Aug 2015)