Jean De La Bruyere Quotes
Top 100 wise famous quotes and sayings by Jean De La Bruyere
Jean De La Bruyere Famous Quotes & Sayings
Discover top inspirational quotes from Jean De La Bruyere on Wise Famous Quotes.
It is motive alone that gives real value to the actions of men, and disinterestedness puts the cap to it.
It is virtue which should determine us in the choice of our friends, without inquiring into their good or evil fortune.
High birth is a gift of fortune which should never challenge esteem towards those who receive it, since it costs them neither study nor labor.
The slave has but one master, the ambitious man has as many as there are persons whose aid may contribute to the advancement of his fortunes.
Tyranny has no need of arts or sciences, for its policy, which is very shallow and without any refinement, only consists in shedding blood.
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.
Amongst such as out of cunning hear all and talk little, be sure to talk less; or if you must talk, say little.
Women are at little trouble to express what they do not feel; but men are still at less to express what they do feel.
Even the best intentioned of great men need a few scoundrels around them; there are some things you cannot ask an honest man to do.
There are certain things in which mediocrity is not to be endured, such as poetry, music, painting, public speaking.
Duty is what goes most against the grain, because in doing that we do only what we are strictly obliged to, and are seldom much praised for it.
Modesty is to merit, what shade is to figures in a picture; it gives it strength and makes it stand out.
The same common sense which makes an author write good things, makes him dread they are not good enough to deserve reading.
Love has this in common with scruples, that it becomes embittered by the reflections and the thoughts that beset us to free ourselves.
A wise man is cured of ambition by ambition itself; his aim is so exalted that riches, office, fortune, and favor cannot satisfy him.
Nothing is easier for passion than to overcome reason, but the greatest triumph is to conquer a man's own interests.
Praise, of all things, is the most powerful excitement to commendable actions, and animates us in our enterprises.
For a woman to be at once a coquette and a bigot is more than the humblest of husbands can bear; she should mercifully choose between the two.
A man who has schemed for some time can no longer do without it; all other ways of living are to him dull and insipid.
When life is unhappy it is hard to endure, when it is happy it is terrible to think of it ending. Both amount to the same thing in the end.
As long as men are liable to die and are desirous to live, a physician will be made fun of, but he will be well paid.
There are only three events in a man's life; birth, life and death; he is not conscious of being born, he dies in pain and he forgets to live.
The pleasure of criticism takes away from us the pleasure of being deeply moved by very fine things.
One faithful Friend is enough for a man's self, 'tis much to meet with such an one, yet we can't have too many for the sake of others.
A woman with eyes only for one person, or with eyes always averted from him, creates exactly the same impression.
The punishment of a criminal is an example to the rabble; but every decent man is concerned if an innocent person is condemned.
No vice exists which does not pretend to be more or less like some virtue, and which does not take advantage of this assumed resemblance.
They who, without any previous knowledge of us, think amiss of us, do us no harm; they attack not us, but the phantom of their own imagination.
A faithless woman, if known to be such by the person concerned, is but faithless ; if she is believed faithful, she is treacherous.
If it be usual to be strongly impressed by things that are scarce, why are we so little impressed by virtue?
The highest reach of a news-writer is an empty Reasoning on Policy, and vain Conjectures on the public Management.