Jean Bruyere
Jean Bruyere
devote greater lives majority men remaining
The majority of men devote the greater part of their lives to making their remaining years unhappy.
brevity complain time worst
Those who make the worst use of their time are the first to complain of its brevity
genius proportion talent
Between genius and talent there is the proportion of the whole to its part
knows practice repent seldom speaking trite vulgar
We seldom repent of speaking little, very often of speaking too much: a vulgar and trite maxim, which all the world knows and, but which all the world does not practice
account attained estate fall faults high men
We see men fall from high estate on account of the very faults through which they attained it
life men
There is nothing of which men are so fond, and withal so careless, as life
beauty figures giving modesty shades strength
Modesty is to merit, as shades to figures in a picture, giving it strength and beauty
comedy life tragedy
Life is a tragedy for those who feel, and a comedy for those who think.
books skilled
Making books is a skilled trade, like making clocks.
giving less lies
Liberality lies less in giving liberally than in the timeliness of the gift.
consists giving rather reasonably
Liberality consists rather in giving reasonably than much
gentleman pass shall whatever
Let us not overstrain our talents, for if we do we shall do nothing with grace; a clown, whatever he may do, will never pass for a gentleman
either others stupidity ways
There are only two ways of getting on in the world either by one's own industry, or by the stupidity of others
depended deserved generous great honest report resolute
There is a report that Piso is dead; it is a great loss; he was an honest man, who deserved to live longer; he was intelligent and agreeable, resolute and courageous, to be depended upon, generous and faithful.' Add: 'provided he is really dead'.