JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE QUOTES III

French philosopher and moralist (1645-1696)


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Modesty is to merit, what shade is to figures in a picture; it gives it strength and makes it stand out.

JEAN DE LA BRUYERE
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The Characters or Manners of the Present Age


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Tags: modesty


To how many girls has a great beauty been of no other use but to make them expect a large fortune!

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Women", Les Caractères

Tags: beauty


Whatever is certain in death is slightly alleviated by what is not so infallible; the time when it shall happen is undefined, but it is more or less connected with the infinite, and what we call eternity.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Mankind", Les Caractères

Tags: death


A man must be completely wanting in intelligence if he does not show it when actuated by love, malice, or necessity.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Affections", Les Caractères

Tags: intelligence


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 preacher must have some intelligence to charm the people by his florid style, by his exhilarating system of morality, by the repetition of his figures of speech, his brilliant remarks and vivid descriptions ; but, after all, he has not too much of it, for if he possessed some of the right quality he would neglect these extraneous ornaments, unworthy of the Gospel, and preach naturally, forcibly, and like a Christian.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Pulpit", Les Caractères


In the world there are only two ways of raising one's self, either by one's own industry or by the weakness of others.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

attributed, Forty Thousand Quotations

Tags: weakness


The most accomplished literary work would be reduced to nothing by carping criticism, if the author would listen to all critics and allow every one to erase the passage which pleases him the least.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Works of the Mind", Les Caractères


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


Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

attributed, Selected Thoughts from the French: XV Century-XX Century, with English Translations

Tags: life


The Opera is obviously the first draft of a fine spectacle; it suggests the idea of one.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

Les Caractères ou les Moeurs de ce siecle

Tags: opera


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


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


Anything is a temptation to those who dread it.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Women", Les Caractères

Tags: temptation


False modesty is the last refinement of vanity.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: vanity


For a long time visits among lovers and professions of love are kept up through habit, after their behavior has plainly proved that love no longer exists.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Affections", Les Caractères

Tags: habit


In all conditions of life a poor man is a near neighbor to an honest one, and a rich man is as little removed from a knave.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Gifts of Fortune", Les Caractères


It is weakness which makes us hate an enemy and seek revenge, and it is idleness that pacifies us and causes us to neglect it.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Affections", Les Caractères

Tags: enemies


Nothing is easier for passion than to overcome reason, but the greatest triumph is to conquer a man's own interests.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of the Affections", Les Caractères

Tags: passion


Outward simplicity befits ordinary men, like a garment made to measure for them; but it serves as an adornment to those who have filled their lives with great deeds: they might be compared to some beauty carelessly dressed and thereby all the more attractive.

JEAN DE LA BRUYÈRE

"Of Personal Merit", Les Caractères

Tags: simplicity