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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.

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
Told
Spoiled
Simply
Lofty
Voice
Emphasis
Language
Require
Littles
Tone
Little
Kept
Great
Expression
Clothed
Things
Style
Delivery

More quotes by Jean de la Bruyere

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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.]
Jean de la Bruyere
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Grief that is dazed and speechless is out of fashion: the modern woman mourns her husband loudly and tells you the whole story of his death, which distresses her so much that she forgets not the slightest detail about it.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Sudden love is latest cured.
Jean de la Bruyere
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There are only three events in a man's life birth, life, and death he is not conscious of being born, he dies in pain, and he forgets to live.
Jean de la Bruyere
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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.]
Jean de la Bruyere
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It is more or less rude to scorn indiscriminately all kinds of praise we ought to be proud of that which comes from honest men, who praise sincerely those things in us which are really commendable.
Jean de la Bruyere
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When we are young we lay up for old age when we are old we save for death.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Men blush less for their crimes than for their weaknesses and vanity.
Jean de la Bruyere
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To give awkwardly is churlishness. The most difficult part is to give, then why not add a smile?
Jean de la Bruyere
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Some people pretend they never were in love and never wrote poetry two weaknesses which they dare not own -- one of the heart, the other of the mind.
Jean de la Bruyere
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We dread old age, which are not sure of being able to attain. [Fr., L'on craint la vieillesse, que l'on n'est pas sur de pouvoir atteindre.]
Jean de la Bruyere
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There is no excess in the world so commendable as excessive gratitude.
Jean de la Bruyere
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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.
Jean de la Bruyere
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He who only writes to suit the taste of the age, considers himself more than his writings. We should always aim at perfection, and then posterity will do us that justice which sometimes our contemporaries refuse us.
Jean de la Bruyere
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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
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The flatterer does not think highly enough of himself or of others.
Jean de la Bruyere
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A coxcomb is one whom simpletons believe to be a man of merit.
Jean de la Bruyere
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A long disease seems to be a halting place between life and death, that death itself may be a comfort to those who die and to those who are left behind.
Jean de la Bruyere
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A man must have very eminent qualities to hold his own without being polite.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Misers are neither relations, nor friends, nor citizens, nor Christians, nor perhaps even human beings.
Jean de la Bruyere