Quote

We seldom repent of speaking little, very often of speaking too much: a vulgar and trite maxim, which all the world knows and, but which all the world does not practice

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
Doe
Maxims
Littles
Repent
Little
Vulgar
Much
Seldom
World
Speaking
Speech
Practice
Trite
Often
Maxim

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Languages are no more than the keys of Sciences. He who despises one, slights the other.
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What is certain in death is somewhat softened by what is uncertain it is an indefiniteness in the time, which holds a certain relation to the infinite, and what is called eternity.
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One faithful Friend is enough for a man's self, 'tis much to meet with such an one, yet we can't have too many for the sake of others.
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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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All the world says of a coxcomb that he is a coxcomb but no one dares to say so to his face, and he dies without knowing it.
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We must strive to make ourselves really worthy of some employment. We need pay no attention to anything else the rest is the business of others.
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When what you read elevates your mind and fills you with noble aspirations, look for no other rule by which to judge a book it is good, and is the work of a master-hand.
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A woman with eyes only for one person, or with eyes always averted from him, creates exactly the same impression.
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Mockery is often the result of a poverty of wit.
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It is a fool's privilege to laugh at an intelligent man.
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Make me chaste and To what excesses will men not go for the sake of a religion in which they believe so little and which they practice so imperfectly!
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The best way to get on in the world is to make people believe it's to their advantage to help you.
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A great mind is above insults, injustice, grief, and raillery, and would be invulnerable were it not open to compassion.
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It is not so easy to obtain a reputation by a perfect work as to enhance the value of an indifferent one by a reputation already acquired.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Love has this in common with scruples, that it becomes embittered by the reflections and the thoughts that beset us to free ourselves.
Jean de la Bruyere
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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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All confidence placed in another is dangerous if it is not perfect, for on almost all occasions we ought to tell everything or to conceal everything. We have already told too much of our secret, if one single circumstance is to be kept back.
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Two persons cannot long be friends if they cannot forgive each other's little failings.
Jean de la Bruyere
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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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He who will not listen to any advice, nor be corrected in his writings, is a rank pedant.
Jean de la Bruyere