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

More quotes by Jean de la Bruyere

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It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.
Jean de la Bruyere
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We seldom repent talking little, but very often talking too much.
Jean de la Bruyere
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If women were by nature what they make themselves by art if they were to lose suddenly all the freshness of their complexion, and their faces to become as fiery and as leaden as they make them with the red and the paint they besmear themselves with, they would consider themselves the most wretched creatures on earth.
Jean de la Bruyere
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There is a pleasure in meeting the glance of a person whom we have lately laid under some obligations.
Jean de la Bruyere
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The State not seldom tolerates a comparatively great evil to keep out millions of lesser ills and inconveniences which otherwise would be inevitable and without remedy.
Jean de la Bruyere
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No vice exists which does not pretend to be more or less like some virtue, and which does not take advantage of this assumed resemblance.
Jean de la Bruyere
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This great misfortune, to be incapable of solitude.
Jean de la Bruyere
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People reveal their character even in the simplest things they do. Fools do not enter a room, nor leave it, nor sit down, nor rise, nor are they silent, nor do they stand up, like people of sense and understanding.
Jean de la Bruyere
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He who can wait for what he desires takes the course not to be exceedingly grieved if he fails of it he, on the contrary, who labors after a thing too impatiently thinks the success when it comes is not a recompense equal to all the pains he has been at about it.
Jean de la Bruyere
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The fears of old age disturb us, yet how few attain it?
Jean de la Bruyere
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Languages are the keys of science.
Jean de la Bruyere
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High birth is a gift of fortune which should never challenge esteem towards those who receive it, since it costs them neither study nor labor.
Jean de la Bruyere
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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
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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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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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In all conditions of life a poor man is a near neighbor to an honest one, and a rich man is as little removed from a knave.
Jean de la Bruyere
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A position of eminence makes a great person greater and a small person less.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Widows, like ripe fruit, drop easily from their perch.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Next to sound judgment, diamonds and pearls are the rarest things in the world.
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