Jean de la Bruyere
Jean de la Bruyere
Jean de La Bruyèrewas a French philosopher and moralist...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryFrance
hero valet
Rarely do they appear great before their valets. [Fr., Rarement ils sont grands vis-a-vis de leur valets-de-chambre.]
men miserable latter
The generality of men expend the early part of their lives in contributing to render the latter part miserable.
want intellect prove
Jesting, often, only proves a want of intellect. [Fr., La moquerie est souvent une indigence d'esprit.]
men mind variables
A man of variable mind is not one man, but several men in one; he multiplies himself as often as he changes his taste and manners; he is not this minute what he was the last, and will not be the next what he is now; he is his own successor.
powerful loud-voices long
What the people call eloquence is the facility some persons have of speaking alone and for a long time, aided by extravagant gestures, a loud voice, and powerful lungs.
book reading clock
To make a book is as much a trade as to make a clock; something more than intelligence is required to become an author.
teaching ignorance men
Profound ignorance makes a man dogmatic. The man who knows nothing thinks he is teaching others what he has just learned himself; the man who knows a great deal can't imagine that what he is saying is not common knowledge, and speaks more indifferently.
gratitude excess world
There is no excess in the world so commendable as excessive gratitude.
hero men noble
The lives of heroes have enriched history, and history has adorned the actions of heroes ; and thus I cannot say whether the historians are more indebted to those who provided them with such noble materials, or those great men to their historians.
neglect duty ingratitude
It is better to expose ourselves to ingratitude than to neglect our duty to the distressed.
men intelligence doe
A man must be completely wanting in intelligence if he does not show it when actuated by love, malice, or necessity.
life men anxious
There is nothing men are so anxious to keep, and yet are so careless about, as life.
speech speak judgment
It is a great misfortune not to possess sufficient wit to speak well, nor sufficient judgment to keep silent.
life years numbers
Life is short, if we are only said to live when we enjoy ourselves; and if we were merely to count up the hours we spent agreeably, a great number of years would hardly make up a life of a few months.