Quote

Politeness does not always inspire goodness, equity, complaisance, and gratitude it gives at least the appearance of these qualities, and makes man appear outwardly, as he should be within.

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
Least
Equity
Quality
Qualities
Within
Appear
Makes
Appearance
Doe
Goodness
Giving
Gratitude
Complaisance
Always
Inspire
Outwardly
Men
Gives
Politeness

More quotes by Jean de la Bruyere

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It is weakness which makes us hate an enemy and seek revenge, and it is idleness that pacifies us and causes us to neglect it.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Life is a kind of sleep: old men sleep longest, nor begin to wake but when they are to die.
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We seldom repent talking little, but very often talking too much.
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Everything has been said, and we have come too late, now that men have been living and thinking for seven thousand years and more.
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The highest reach of a news-writer is an empty Reasoning on Policy, and vain Conjectures on the public Management.
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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 opposite of what is noised about concerning men and things is often the truth. [Fr., Le contraire des bruits qui courent des affaires ou des personnes est souvent la verite.]
Jean de la Bruyere
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Outward simplicity befits ordinary men, like a garment made to measure for them but it serves as an adornment to those who have filled their lives with great deeds: they might be compared to some beauty carelessly dressed and thereby all the more attractive.
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It is boorish to live ungraciously: the giving is the hardest part what does it cost to add a smile?
Jean de la Bruyere
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Most men spend the first half of their lives making the second half miserable.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Praise, of all things, is the most powerful excitement to commendable actions, and animates us in our enterprises.
Jean de la Bruyere
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A man unattached and without wife, if he have any genius at all, may raise himself above his original position, may mingle with the world of fashion, and hold himself on a level with the highest this is less easy for him who is engaged it seems as if marriage put the whole world in their proper rank.
Jean de la Bruyere
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The most delicate, the most sensible of all pleasures, consists in promoting the pleasure of others.
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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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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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
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One seeks to make the loved one entirely happy, or, if that cannot be, entirely wretched.
Jean de la Bruyere
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The punishment of a criminal is an example to the rabble but every decent man is concerned if an innocent person is condemned.
Jean de la Bruyere
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Caprice in woman is the antidote to beauty.
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