The maxim upon humility appears to me perfectly beautiful; but I
have been so surprised to find it there, that I had the greatest
difficulty in recognizing it in the midst of all that precedes
and follows it. It is assuredly to make this virtue practiced
among your own sex, that you have written maxims in which their
self-love is so little flattered. I should be very much
humiliated on my own part, if I did not say to myself what I have
already said to you in this note, that you judge better the
hearts of men than those of women, and that perhaps you do not
know yourself the true motive which makes you esteem them less.
If you had always met those whose temperament had been submitted
to virtue, and in whom the senses were less strong than reason,
you would think better of a certain number who distinguish
themselves always from the multitude; and it seems to me that
Mme. de La Fayette and myself deserve that you should have a
better opinion of the sex in general.

Mme. de La Fayette writes to the Marquise: "All people of good
sense are not so persuaded of the general corruption as is M. de
La Rochefoucauld. I return to you a thousand thanks for all you
have done for this gentleman."--At a later period she said: "La
Rochefoucauld stimulated my intellect, but I reformed his heart."
It is to be regretted that he had not known her sooner.

At his request Mme. de Sable wrote a review of the maxims, which
she submitted to him for approval. It seems to have been a fair
presentation of both sides, but he thought it too severe, and she
kindly gave him permission to change it to suit himself. He took
her at her word, dropped the adverse criticisms, retained the