Jesting, often, only proves a want of intellect. Jean de la Bruyere More Quotes by Jean de la Bruyere More Quotes From Jean de la Bruyere There is a pleasure in meeting the glance of a person whom we have lately laid under some obligations. Jean de la Bruyere glances obligation pleasure The rarest things in the world, next to a spirit of discernment, are diamonds and pearls. Jean de la Bruyere pearls jewels world Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life; cunning is a kind of instinct, that only looks out after our immediate interests and welfare. Discretion is only found in men of strong sense and good understanding; cunning is often to be met with in brutes themselves, and in persons who are but the fewest removes from them. Jean de la Bruyere strong perfection men 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 Bruyere knaves littles men Anything is a temptation to those who dread it. Jean de la Bruyere dread temptation We confide our secret to a friend, but in love it escapes us. Jean de la Bruyere secret Young people are dazzled by the brilliancy of antithesis, and employ it. Matter-of-fact men, and those who like precision, naturally fall into comparisons and metaphor. Sprightly natures, full of fire, and whom a boundless imagination carries beyond all rules, and even what is reasonable, cannot rest satisfied even with hyperbole. As for the sublime, it is only great geniuses and those of the very highest order that are able to rise to its height. Jean de la Bruyere men order fall A simple garb is the proper costume of the vulgar; it is cut for them, and exactly suits their measure, but it is an ornament for those who have filled up their lives with great deeds. I liken them to beauty in dishabille, but more bewitching on that account. Jean de la Bruyere filled-up cutting simple Eminent station makes great men more great, and little ones less. Jean de la Bruyere great-men littles men Too great carelessness, equally with excess in dress, multiplies the wrinkles of old age, and makes its decay still more conspicuous. Jean de la Bruyere wrinkles age dresses A man without characteristics is a most insipid character. Jean de la Bruyere character men A dogmatic tone is generally inspired by abysmal ignorance. The man who knows nothing thinks he is informing others of something which he has that moment learnt; the man who knows a great deal can scarcely believe that people are ignorant of what he is telling them, and speaks more diffidently. Jean de la Bruyere ignorance men profound We are more sociable, and get on better with people by the heart than the intellect. Jean de la Bruyere intellect heart people A good saying often runs the risk of being thrown away when quoted as the speaker's own. Jean de la Bruyere thrown risk running Love has this in common with scruples, that it becomes embittered by the reflections and the thoughts that beset us to free ourselves. Jean de la Bruyere scruples reflection common The mind, like all other things, will become impaired, the sciences are its food,--they nourish, but at the same time they consume it. Jean de la Bruyere mind If men wish to be held in esteem, they must associate with those only who are estimable. Jean de la Bruyere esteem wish men We should only endeavour to think and speak correctly ourselves, without wishing to bring others over to our taste and opinions. Jean de la Bruyere taste wish thinking When we are dead we are praised by those who survive us, though we frequently have no other merit than that of being no longer alive. Jean de la Bruyere merit reputation alive It requires more than mere genius to be an author. Jean de la Bruyere mere genius writing
