JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE QUOTES III

French philosopher and moralist (1645-1696)

A wise man is cured of ambition by ambition itself; his aim is so exalted that riches, office, fortune, and favor cannot satisfy him.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Personal Merit", Les Caractères

Tags: ambition


A man of variable mind is not one man, but several men in one; he multiplies himself as often as he changes his taste and manners; he is not this minute what he was the last, and will not be the next what he is now; he is his own successor.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Mankind", Les Caractères


A great mind is above insults, injustice, grief, and raillery, and would be invulnerable were it not open to compassion.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Mankind", Les Caractères

Tags: compassion


When we lavish our money we rob our heir; when we merely save it we rob ourselves.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Gifts of Fortune", Les Caractères

Tags: money


We should like those whom we love to receive all their happiness, or, if this were impossible, all their unhappiness from our hands.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Affections", Les Caractères


We never deceive people to benefit them, for knavery is a compound of wickedness and falsehood.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Mankind", Les Caractères

Tags: deception


The shortest and best way of making your fortune is to let people clearly see that it is their interest to promote yours.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Gifts of Fortune", Les Caractères


Some people pretend they never were in love and never wrote poetry; two weaknesses which they dare not own -- one of the heart, the other of the mind.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Affections", Les Caractères

Tags: poetry


Nothing resembles today so much as tomorrow.

JEAN DE LA BRUYERE

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: tomorrow


Marriage, it seems, confines every man to his proper rank.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Personal Merit", Les Caractères

Tags: marriage


Making a book is a craft, like making a clock; it needs more than native wit to be an author.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Works of the Mind", Les Caractères

Tags: books


Love begins with love ; and the warmest friendship cannot change even to the coldest love.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Affections", Les Caractères

Tags: love


It is often easier as well as more advantageous to conform ourselves to other men's opinions than to bring them over to ours.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Society and of Conversation", Les Caractères

Tags: opinions


He who will not listen to any advice, nor be corrected in his writings, is a rank pedant.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Works of the Mind", Les Caractères

Tags: writing


False modesty is the last refinement of vanity.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: vanity


A faithless woman, if known to be such by the person concerned, is but faithless ; if she is believed faithful, she is treacherous.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Women", Les Caractères

Tags: adultery


Women are at little trouble to express what they do not feel; but men are still at less to express what they do feel.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Women", Les Caractères


When, after having read a work, loftier thoughts arise in your mind and noble and heartfelt feelings animate you, do not look for any other rule to judge it by; it is fine and written in a masterly manner.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Works of the Mind", Les Caractères

Tags: reading


We come too late to say anything which has not been said already.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Works of the Mind", Les Caractères

Tags: originality


There is a pleasure in meeting the glance of a person whom we have lately laid under some obligations.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Affections", Les Caractères