Quote

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

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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
Must
Genius
Expressions
Mean
Expression
Describing
Virgil
Writing
Write
Plato
Forcibly
True
Consists
Horace
Character
Author
Delicately
Wells
Naturally
Homer
Well
Images
Indicate
Whole
Writers
Excel

More quotes by Jean de la Bruyere

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I am told so many ill things of a man, and I see so few in him, that I begin to suspect he has a real but troublesome merit, as being likely to eclipse that of others.
Jean de la Bruyere
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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
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When a man puts on a Character he is a stranger to, there's as much difference between what he appears, and what he is really in himself, as there is between a VIzor and a Face.
Jean de la Bruyere
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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
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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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We meet With few utterly dull and stupid souls: the sublime and transcendent are still fewer the generality of mankind stand between these two extremes: the interval is filled with multitudes of ordinary geniuses, but all very useful, and the ornaments and supports of the commonwealth.
Jean de la Bruyere
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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.
Jean de la Bruyere
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When we have run through all forms of government, without partiality to that we were born under, we are at a loss with which to side they are all a compound of good and evil. It is therefore most reasonable and safe to value that of our own country above all others, and to submit to it.
Jean de la Bruyere
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The generality of men expend the early part of their lives in contributing to render the latter part miserable.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Making a book is a craft, like making a clock it needs more than native wit to be an author.
Jean de la Bruyere
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It is a fool's privilege to laugh at an intelligent man.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Extremes are vicious, and proceed from men compensation is just, and proceeds from God.
Jean de la Bruyere
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A dogmatic tone is generally inspired by abysmal ignorance. The man who knows nothing thinks he is informing others of something which he has that moment learnt the man who knows a great deal can scarcely believe that people are ignorant of what he is telling them, and speaks more diffidently.
Jean de la Bruyere
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An assembly of the states, a court of justice, shows nothing so serious and grave as a table of gamesters playing very high a melancholy solicitude clouds their looks envy and rancor agitate their minds while the meeting lasts, without regard to friendship, alliances, birth or distinctions.
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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When a secret is revealed, it is the fault of the man who confided it.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Tyranny has no need of arts or sciences, for its policy, which is very shallow and without any refinement, only consists in shedding blood.
Jean de la Bruyere
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A prince wants only the pleasure of private life to complete his happiness.
Jean de la Bruyere
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The Great slight the men of wit, who have nothing but wit the men of wit despise the Great, who have nothing but greatness the good man pities them both, if with greatness or wit they have not virtue.
Jean de la Bruyere
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To make a book is as much a trade as to make a clock something more than intelligence is required to become an author.
Jean de la Bruyere