The whole genius of an author consists in describing well, and delineating character well. Homer, Plato, Virgil, Horace only excel other writers by their expressions and images; we must indicate what is true if we mean to write naturally, forcibly and delicately.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Jean de La Bruyère Quotes

It is very rare to find ground which produces nothing; if it is not covered with flowers, with fruit trees and grains, it produces briers and pines. It is the same with man; if he is not virtuous, he becomes vicious.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Cunning is none of the best nor worst qualities; it floats between virtue and vice; there is scarce any exigence where it may not, and perhaps ought not to be supplied by prudence.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Courtly manners are contagious; they are caught at Versailles.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Love, slow and gradual in its growth, is too much like friendship ever to be a violent passion.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Great things only require to be simply told, for they are spoiled by emphasis; but little things should be clothed in lofty language, as they are only kept up by expression, tone of voice, and style of delivery.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Love begins with love ; and the warmest friendship cannot change even to the coldest love.

— Jean de La Bruyère

The same amount of pride which makes a man treat haughtily his inferiors, makes him cringe servilely; to those above him.

— Jean de La Bruyère

For a long time visits among lovers and professions of love are kept up through habit, after their behavior has plainly proved that love no longer exists.

— Jean de La Bruyère

In all conditions of life a poor man is a near neighbor to an honest one, and a rich man is as little removed from a knave.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Anything is a temptation to those who dread it.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Favor exalts a man above his equals, but his dismissal from that favor places him below them.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Among some people arrogance supplies the place of grandeur, inhumanity of decision, and roguery of intelligence.

— Jean de La Bruyère

He who excels in his art so as to carry it to the utmost height of perfection of which it is capable may be said in some measure to go beyond it: his transcendent productions admit of no appellations.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Laziness begat wearisomeness, and this put men in quest of diversions, play and company, on which however it is a constant attendant; he who works hard, has enough to do with himself otherwise.

— Jean de La Bruyère

Avoid making yourself the subject of conversation.

— Jean de La Bruyère

We should only endeavour to think and speak correctly ourselves, without wishing to bring others over to our taste and opinions.

— Jean de La Bruyère

A man in health questions whether there is a God, and he also doubts whether it be a sin to have intercourse with a woman, who is at liberty to refuse ; but when he falls ill, or when his mistress is with child, she is discarded, and he believes in God.

— Jean de La Bruyère

A man who has schemed for some time can no longer do without it; all other ways of living are to him dull and insipid.

— Jean de La Bruyère

We ought not to make those people our enemies who might have become our friends, if we had only known them better.

— Jean de La Bruyère

There is a pleasure in meeting the glance of a person whom we have lately laid under some obligations.

— Jean de La Bruyère
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