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A vain man finds it wise to speak good or ill of himself a modest man does not talk of himself.

Jean de la Bruyere

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Jean de la Bruyere
Age: 50 †
Born: 1645
Born: August 16
Died: 1696
Died: May 10
Aphorist
Essayist
French Moralist
Lawyer
Philosopher
Translator
Writer
Paris
France
Jean de La Bruyere
Wise
Talk
Speak
Doe
Modesty
Good
Modest
Men
Finds
Ill
Vain

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Politeness does not always inspire goodness, equity, complaisance, and gratitude it gives at least the appearance of these qualities, and makes man appear outwardly, as he should be within.
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Friendship * * * is a long time in forming, it is of slow growth, through many trials and months of familiarity.
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The passion of hatred is so long lived and so obstinate a malady that the surest sign of death in a sick person is their desire for reconciliation.
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The beginning and the end of love are both marked by embarrassment when the two find themselves alone. [Fr., Le commencement et le declin de l'amour se font sentir par l'embarras ou l'on est de se trouver seuls.]
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It takes talent to please the people in a sermon by a flowery style, a cheerful ethic, brilliant sallies and lively descriptions but such a talent is inadequate. A better sort of talent neglects these extraneous ornaments, unworthy to be used in the service of the Gospel: such a preacher's sermon will be simple, strong and Christian.
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The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. He who leaves your company pleased with himself and his own cleverness is perfectly well pleased with you.
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The very impossibility in which I find myself to prove that God is not, discloses to me His existence. [Fr., L'impossibilite ou je suis de prouver que Dieu n'est pas, me decouvre son existence.]
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Manners carry the world for the moment, character for all time.
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Extremes are vicious, and proceed from men compensation is just, and proceeds from God.
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If poverty is the mother of all crimes, lack of intelligence is the father.
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A man starts upon a sudden, takes Pen, Ink, and Paper, and without ever having had a thought of it before, resolves within himself he will write a Book he has no Talent at Writing, but he wants fifty Guineas.
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Death happens but once, yet we feel it every moment of our lives it is worse to dread it than to suffer it.
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Next to sound judgment, diamonds and pearls are the rarest things in the world.
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Great things astonish us, and small dishearten us. Custom makes both familiar.
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There are certain people who so ardently and passionately desire a thing, that from dread of losing it they leave nothing undone to make them lose it.
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The most delicate, the most sensible of all pleasures, consists in promoting the pleasure of others.
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When, after having read a work, loftier thoughts arise in your mind and noble and heartfelt feelings animate you, do not look for any other rule to judge it by it is fine and written in a masterly manner.
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Children enjoy the present because they have neither a past nor a future.
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We wish to constitute all the happiness, or, if that cannot be, the misery of the one we love.
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Duty is what goes most against the grain, because in doing that we do only what we are strictly obliged to, and are seldom much praised for it.
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