Quotes by Jean de la Bruyere

About Jean de la Bruyere:

Jean de La Bruyère was a French philosopher and moralist.
A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

One mark of a second-rate mind is to be always telling stories.

Jean de la Bruyere

The Opera is obviously the first draft of a fine spectacle; it suggests the idea of one.

Jean de la Bruyere

The very essence of politeness is to take care that by our words and actions we make other people pleased with us as well as with themselves.

Jean de la Bruyere

The unnamed should not be mistaken for the nonexistent.

Jean de la Bruyere

If poverty is the mother of all crimes, lack of intelligence is their father.

Jean de la Bruyere

The pleasure of criticizing takes away from us the pleasure of being moved by some very fine things.

Jean de la Bruyere

If some persons died and others did not die death would indeed be a terrible affliction.

Jean de la Bruyere

It is a sad thing when men have neither the wit to speak well nor the judgment to hold their tongues.

Jean de la Bruyere

Men blush less for their crimes than for their weaknesses and vanity.

Jean de la Bruyere

Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its shortness.

Jean de la Bruyere

The exact contrary of what is generally believed is often the truth.

Jean de la Bruyere

Logic is the technique by which we add conviction to truth.

Jean de la Bruyere

We should keep silent about those in power; to speak well of them almost implies flattery; to speak ill of them while they are alive is dangerous, and when they are dead is cowardly.

Jean de la Bruyere

It is boorish to live ungraciously: the giving is the hardest part; what does it cost to add a smile?

Jean de la Bruyere

There are certain things in which mediocrity is not to be endured, such as poetry, music, painting, public speaking.

Jean de la Bruyere

Marriage, it seems, confines every man to his proper rank.

Jean de la Bruyere

There is no road too long to the man who advances deliberately and without undue haste; there are no honors too distant to the man who prepares himself for them with patience.

Jean de la Bruyere

Author Bio

  • NameJean de la Bruyere
  • Description17th-century French writer and philosopher
  • BornAugust 16, 1645
  • DiedMay 11, 1696
  • CountryFrance
  • ProfessionWriter; Essayist