Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires

Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires

Francois de La Rochefoucauld, a French author and moralist, is known for his insightful observations on human behavior and emotions. One of his most famous quotes is, “Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind extinguishes candles and fans fires.” This quote speaks to the idea that when we are separated from something or someone, our feelings towards them are either strengthened or weakened depending on the depth of our emotions.