Johann Kaspar Lavater
Johann Kaspar Lavater
Johann KasparLavaterwas a Swiss poet, writer, philosopher, physiognomist and theologian...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionTheologian
Date of Birth15 November 1741
CountryGermany
trust littles indifference
Trust him little who praise all, him less who censures all and him least who is indifferent about all.
want littles pursuit
He can feel no little wants who is in pursuit of grandeur.
men no-friends dependence-on-others
Depend on no man, on no friend but him who can depend on himself. He only who acts conscientiously toward himself, will act so toward others.
honesty men air
The more honesty a man has, the less he affects the air of a saint.
years three hours
Three days of uninterrupted company in a vehicle will make you better acquainted with another, than one hour's conversation with him every day for three years.
love simple rose
When you doubt between words, use the plainest, the commonest, the most idiomatic. Eschew fine words as you would rouge; love simple ones as you would the native roses on your cheek.
character looks may
Action, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell character.
nature has-beens pretension
Where there is much pretension, much has been borrowed; nature never pretends.
poverty ridiculous rich
All affectation is the vain and ridiculous attempt of poverty to appear rich
believe mean use
He who attempts to make others believe in means which he himself despises is a puffer; he who makes use of more means than he knows to be necessary is a quack; and he who ascribes to those means a greater efficacy than his own experience warrants is an impostor.
expression opposites tablets
True worth is as inevitably discovered by the facial expression, as its opposite is sure to be clearly represented there. The human face is nature's tablet, the truth is certainly written thereon.
real hatred causes
Thousands are hated, while none are loved without a real cause
grief joy greater
He who can conceal his joys, is greater than he who can hide his griefs
giving humanity favors
I am prejudiced in favor of him who, without impudence, can ask boldly. He has faith in humanity, and faith in himself. No one who is not accustomed to giving grandly can ask nobly and with boldness.