Numberless arts appear foolish whose secret motives are most wise and weighty.

What did François de La Rochefoucauld mean by:

Numberless arts appear foolish whose secret motives are most wise and weighty.

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This quote talks about the perception of certain actions or decisions that may seem foolish or nonsensical on the surface, but when looked at more closely, they are driven by deep wisdom and significant reasons. It’s all about the hidden motives behind these actions that make them wise and weighty. In other words, the wisdom of an action isn’t always immediately apparent and can often be misunderstood as foolishness.

Applying this to today’s world, we can see it in the realm of innovation and entrepreneurship. Many of the world’s most successful entrepreneurs were initially viewed as foolish or naive for their unconventional ideas. For instance, the idea of electric cars was initially ridiculed, but Elon Musk’s Tesla is now leading the automobile industry. The secret motive was a sustainable future, which seemed foolish to many initially but is now considered wise.

In terms of personal development, this quote encourages us to not be afraid of being misunderstood or appearing foolish while pursuing our passions or unconventional ideas. It emphasizes the importance of understanding our own motives and not being swayed by the opinions of others. It also suggests that we should be open-minded and try to understand the deeper motives behind others’ actions, rather than hastily judging them as foolish.

In essence, the quote underscores the importance of depth, wisdom, and foresight in our actions, even if they may not be immediately understood or appreciated by others. It reminds us that the value of our actions lies in their underlying motives and long-term impacts, rather than their immediate appearance.

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