[LXXIV].—God has permitted, to punish man for his original sin, that he should be so fond of his self-love, that he should be tormented by it in all the actions of his life. (Ms., Fol. 310, Max. 494.)
[LXXV].—And so far it seems to me the philosophy of a lacquey can go; I believe that all gaity in that state of life is very doubtful indeed. (To Madame De Sablé, Fol. 161, Max. 504.)
[In the maxim cited the author relates how a footman about to be broken on the wheel danced on the scaffold. He seems to think that in his day the life of such servants was so miserable that their merriment was very doubtful.]
THIRD SUPPLEMENT
[The fifty following Maxims are taken from the Sixth Edition of the Pensées De La Rochefoucauld, published by Claude Barbin, in 1693, more than twelve years after the death of the author (17th May, 1680). The reader will find some repetitions, but also some very valuable maxims.]
[LXXVI].—Many persons wish to be devout; but no one wishes to be humble.
[LXXVII].—The labour of the body frees us from the pains of the mind, and thus makes the poor happy.
[LXXVIII].—True penitential sorrows (mortifications) are those which are not known, vanity renders the others easy enough.
[LXXIX].—Humility is the altar upon which God wishes that we should offer him his sacrifices.