It is very rare to find ground which produces nothing; if it is not covered with flowers, with fruit trees and grains, it produces briers and pines. It is the same with man; if he is not virtuous, he becomes vicious. Jean de la Bruyere More Quotes by Jean de la Bruyere More Quotes From Jean de la Bruyere How many men are like trees, already strong and full grown, which are transplanted into some gardens, to the astonishment of those people who behold them in these fine spots, where they never saw them grow, and who neither know their beginning nor their progress! Jean de la Bruyere garden strong men It is boorish to live ungraciously: the giving is the hardest part; what does it cost to add a smile? Jean de la Bruyere smile add giving Hatred is so lasting and stubborn, that reconciliation on a sickbed certainly forebodes death. Jean de la Bruyere stubborn hate hatred Days, months, years fly away, and irrecoverably sink in the abyss of time. Jean de la Bruyere months time years Such a great misfortune, not to be able to be alone. Jean de la Bruyere misfortunes able A wise man neither suffers himself to be governed, Jean de la Bruyere government wise men A prince wants only the pleasure of private life to complete his happiness. Jean de la Bruyere private-life pleasure want There are but three events which concern man: birth, life and death. They are unconscious of their birth, they suffer when they die, and they neglect to live. Jean de la Bruyere birth-life-and-death suffering men Friendship can exist between persons of different sexes, without any coarse or sensual feelings; yet a woman always looks upon a man as a man, and so a man will look upon a woman as a woman. Jean de la Bruyere feelings men sex Men fall from great fortune because of the same shortcomings that led to their rise. Jean de la Bruyere failure men fall A man unattached and without wife, if he have any genius at all, may raise himself above his original position, may mingle with the world of fashion, and hold himself on a level with the highest; this is less easy for him who is engaged; it seems as if marriage put the whole world in their proper rank. Jean de la Bruyere fashion wife men How sweet, how passing sweet, is solitude! Jean de la Bruyere passing solitude sweet A show of a certain amount of honesty is in any profession or business the surest way of growing rich. Jean de la Bruyere growing honesty truth The doctors allow one to die, the charlatans kill. Jean de la Bruyere charlatans doctors dies To delay is injustice. Jean de la Bruyere delay injustice procrastination The finest pleasure is kindness to others. Jean de la Bruyere finest pleasure kindness The most important things must be said simply, for they are spoiled by bombast; whereas trivial things must be described grandly, for they are supported only by aptness of expression, tone and manner. Jean de la Bruyere tone important expression This great misfortune, to be incapable of solitude. Jean de la Bruyere incapable capability solitude If some persons died, and others did not die, death would be a terrible affliction. Jean de la Bruyere dying would-be death Logic is the technique by which we add conviction to truth. Jean de la Bruyere technique math add
