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If it be usual to be strongly impressed by things that are scarce, why are we so little impressed by virtue?
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
Virtue
Littles
Little
Things
Scarce
Strongly
Impressed
Usual
More quotes by Jean de la Bruyere
The rarest things in the world, next to a spirit of discernment, are diamonds and pearls. [Fr., Apres l'esprit de discernement, ce qu'il y a au monde de plus rare, ce sont les diamants et les perles.]
Jean de la Bruyere
Making a book is a craft, like making a clock it needs more than native wit to be an author.
Jean de la Bruyere
We need not envy certain people their great wealth they acquired it at a heavy cost, which would not suit us they staked their rest, their health, their honour and their conscience to acquire it, the price is too high, and there is nothing to be gained by such a bargain.
Jean de la Bruyere
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.
Jean de la Bruyere
During the course of our life we now and then enjoy some pleasures so inviting, and have some encounters of so tender a nature, that though they are forbidden, it is but natural to wish that they were at least allowable. Nothing can be more delightful, except it be to abandon them for virtue's sake.
Jean de la Bruyere
A coxcomb is one whom simpletons believe to be a man of merit.
Jean de la Bruyere
We should only endeavour to think and speak correctly ourselves, without wishing to bring others over to our taste and opinions.
Jean de la Bruyere
The generality of men expend the early part of their lives in contributing to render the latter part miserable.
Jean de la Bruyere
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 Bruyere
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 Bruyere
The doctors allow one to die, the charlatans kill.
Jean de la Bruyere
Party loyalty lowers the greatest men to the petty level of the masses.
Jean de la Bruyere
Profound ignorance makes a man dogmatic. The man who knows nothing thinks he is teaching others what he has just learned himself the man who knows a great deal can't imagine that what he is saying is not common knowledge, and speaks more indifferently.
Jean de la Bruyere
A person's worth in this world is estimated according to the value he puts on himself.
Jean de la Bruyere
I take sanctuary in an honest mediocrity.
Jean de la Bruyere
If poverty is the mother of all crimes, lack of intelligence is the father.
Jean de la Bruyere
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.
Jean de la Bruyere
Nothing is easier for passion than to overcome reason, but the greatest triumph is to conquer a man's own interests.
Jean de la Bruyere
Discretion is the perfection of reason, and a guide to us in all the duties of life. It is only found in men of sound sense and understanding.
Jean de la Bruyere
Grief at the absence of a loved one is happiness compared to life with a person one hates.
Jean de la Bruyere
