It is a great misfortune neither to have enough wit to talk well nor enough judgment to be silent. Jean de la Bruyere More Quotes by Jean de la Bruyere More Quotes From Jean de la Bruyere Dissimulation, even the most innocent in its nature, is ever productive of embarrassment; whether the design is evil or not artifice is always dangerous and almost inevitably disgraceful. Jean de la Bruyere innocent design evil 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. Jean de la Bruyere obliged duty grain The pleasure a man of honor enjoys in the consciousness of having performed his duty is a reward he pays himself for all his pains. Jean de la Bruyere pain honor men An egotist will always speak of himself, either in praise or in censure, but a modest man ever shuns making himself the subject of his conversation. Jean de la Bruyere speak praise men The great charm of conversation consists less in the display of one's own wit and intelligence than in the power to draw forth the resources of others. Jean de la Bruyere charm resources conversation Cheats easily believe others as bad as themselves; there is no deceiving them, nor do they long deceive. Jean de la Bruyere deceit long believe Amongst such as out of cunning hear all and talk little, be sure to talk less; or if you must talk, say little. Jean de la Bruyere cunning littles conversation If it be true that a man is rich who wants nothing, a wise man is a very rich man. Jean de la Bruyere wisdom wise men It is a great misfortune not to possess sufficient wit to speak well, nor sufficient judgment to keep silent. Jean de la Bruyere judgment speech speak Most men spend the first half of their lives making the second half miserable. Jean de la Bruyere sadness half men To make a book is as much a trade as to make a clock; something more than intelligence is required to become an author. Jean de la Bruyere clock reading book A judge's duty is to grant justice, but his practice is to delay it: even those judges who know their duty adhere to the general practice. Jean de la Bruyere judging practice justice When a man puts on a Character he is a stranger to, there's as much difference between what he appears, and what he is really in himself, as there is between a VIzor and a Face. Jean de la Bruyere differences character men The nearer we come to great men the more clearly we see that they are only men. They rarely seem great to their valets. Jean de la Bruyere valet greatness men Eloquence may be found in conversations and in all kinds of writings; it is rarely found when looked for, and sometimes discovered where it is least expected. Jean de la Bruyere kind writing may Profane eloquence is transfered from the bar, where Le Maitre, Pucelle, and Fourcroy formerly practised it, and where it has become obsolete, to the Pulpit, where it is out of place. Jean de la Bruyere pulpit obsolete bars 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. Jean de la Bruyere cost study challenges A blockhead cannot come in, nor go away, nor sit, nor rise, nor stand, like a man of sense. Jean de la Bruyere blockheads going-away men Men blush less for their crimes than for their weaknesses and vanity. Jean de la Bruyere vanity weakness men A lovely countenance is the fairest of all sights, and the sweetest harmony is the sound of the voice of her whom we love. Jean de la Bruyere lovely voice sight
