It is a sad thing when men have neither enough intelligence to speak well nor enough sense to hold their tongues; this is the root of all impertinence. Jean de la Bruyere More Quotes by Jean de la Bruyere More Quotes From Jean de la Bruyere If women were by nature what they make themselves by art; if they were to lose suddenly all the freshness of their complexion, and their faces to become as fiery and as leaden as they make them with the red and the paint they besmear themselves with, they would consider themselves the most wretched creatures on earth. Jean de la Bruyere red faces art A vain man finds his account in speaking good or evil of himself. Jean de la Bruyere vanity evil men It is not so easy to obtain a reputation by a perfect work as to enhance the value of an indifferent one by a reputation already acquired. Jean de la Bruyere reputation perfect easy For some people, speaking and giving offence are one and the same thing. They are spiteful and bitter; their style is infused with gall and wormwood; mockery, abuse and insults flow from their lips like spittle. Jean de la Bruyere speak people Physiognomy is not a guide that has been given us by which to judge of the character of men: it may only serve us for conjecture. Jean de la Bruyere judging character men I am not surprised that men who put their trust in an atom should fail in their slightest attempts to plumb truth, that with such limited vision they cannot see beyond the sky and the stars to God Himself; that since they cannot discern the superiority of what is spiritual or the dignity of man's soul, they are even more unaware how hard it is to satisfy, how the whole earth is unworthy of it, how urgently it needs a supremely perfect being, who is God, and how indispensable to it is a religion which will lead it towards God and provide a sure pledge of Him. Jean de la Bruyere effort stars men There are some who speak one moment before they think Jean de la Bruyere moments speak thinking 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 Bruyere certain infinite eternity All the worth of some people lies in their name; upon a closer inspection it dwindles to nothing, but from a distance it deceives us. Jean de la Bruyere distance names lying 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 Bruyere trouble littles men To bewail the loss of a person we love is a happiness compared with the necessity of living with one we hate. Jean de la Bruyere hate loss love-is It takes talent to please the people in a sermon by a flowery style, a cheerful ethic, brilliant sallies and lively descriptions; but such a talent is inadequate. A better sort of talent neglects these extraneous ornaments, unworthy to be used in the service of the Gospel: such a preacher's sermon will be simple, strong and Christian. Jean de la Bruyere style christian people A look of intelligence is what regularity of features is to women: it is a styule of beauty to which the most vain may aspire. Jean de la Bruyere air beauty looks A great mind is above insults, injustice, grief, and raillery, and would be invulnerable were it not open to compassion. Jean de la Bruyere grief compassion mind The best thing next to wit is a consciousness that it is not in us; without wit, a man might then know how to behave himself, so as not to appear to be a fool or a coxcomb. Jean de la Bruyere next might men I never have wit until I am below stairs. Jean de la Bruyere stairs wit Widows, like ripe fruit, drop easily from their perch. Jean de la Bruyere ripe-fruit widows fruit We all covet wealth, but not its perils. Jean de la Bruyere peril wealth The Great slight the men of wit, who have nothing but wit; the men of wit despise the Great, who have nothing but greatness; the good man pities them both, if with greatness or wit they have not virtue. Jean de la Bruyere good-man greatness men We rarely repent of speaking little, but often of speaking too much. Jean de la Bruyere speech too-much littles
