Quotes by Jean de La Bruyère

“The unnamed should not be mistaken for the nonexistent.””

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

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

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

“A wise man is cured of ambition by ambition itself; his aim is so exalted that riches, office, fortune, and favor cannot satisfy him.””

“The true spirit of conversation consists more in bringing out the cleverness of others than in showing a great deal of it yourself; he who goes away pleased with himself and his own wit is also greatly pleased with you. Most men would rather please than admire you; they seek less to be instructed, and even to be amused, than to be praised and applauded.””

“Not to be able to bear with all bad-tempered people with whom the world is crowded, shows that a man has not a good temper himself.””

“The same principle leads us to neglect a man of merit that induces us to admire a fool.””

“Generosity lies less in giving much than in giving at the right moment.””

“One seeks to make the loved one entirely happy, or, if that cannot be, entirely wretched.””

“We can recognize the dawn and the decline of love by the uneasiness we feel when alone together.””

“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.””