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A wise man neither suffers himself to be governed, nor attempts to govern others.

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
Attempts
Govern
Neither
Wise
Suffering
Others
Government
Suffers
Men
Governed

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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.
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Most men spend the first half of their lives making the second half miserable.
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If a handsome woman allows that another woman is beautiful, we may safely conclude she excels her.
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A man only goes and confesses his faults to the world when his self will not acknowledge or listen to them. WYNDHAM LEWIS, Tarr Two persons will not be friends long if they are not inclined to pardon each other's little failings.
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The slave has but one master, the ambitious man has as many as there are persons whose aid may contribute to the advancement of his fortunes.
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There is not in the world so toilsome a trade as the pursuit of fame life concludes before you have so much as sketched your work.
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If it be true that a man is rich who wants nothing, a wise man is a very rich man.
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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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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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It requires more than mere genius to be an author.
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Most men spend the best part of their lives making the remaining part wretched.
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Physiognomy is not a guide that has been given us by which to judge of the character of men: it may only serve us for conjecture. [Fr., La physionomie n'est pas une regle qui nous soit donnee pour juger des hommes elle nous peut servir de conjecture.]
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The fool only is troublesome. A plan of sense perceives when he is agreeable or tiresome he disappears the very minute before he would have been thought to have stayed too long.
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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.
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We ought not to make those people our enemies who might have become our friends, if we had only known them better.
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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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Men regret their life has been ill-spent, but this does not always induce them to make a better use of the time they have yet to live.
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Wit is the god of moments, but Genius is the god of ages.
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It is no more in our power to love always than it was not to love at all.
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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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