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The events we most desire do not happen or, if they do, it is neither in the time nor in the circumstances when they would have given us extreme pleasure.

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
Happens
Extremes
Would
Neither
Time
Circumstances
Events
Happen
Pleasure
Desire
Anticipation
Given
Extreme

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There is no employment in the world so laborious as that of making to one's self a great name life ends before one has scarcely made the first rough draught of his work.
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How much wit, good-nature, indulgences, how many good offices and civilities, are required among friends to accomplish in some years what a lovely face or a fine hand does in a minute!
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A faithless woman, if known to be such by the person concerned, is but faithless if she is believed faithful, she is treacherous.
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It is worse to apprehend than to suffer.
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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.
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It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.
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All confidence placed in another is dangerous if it is not perfect, for on almost all occasions we ought to tell everything or to conceal everything. We have already told too much of our secret, if one single circumstance is to be kept back.
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Between good sense and good taste there lies the difference between a cause and its effect.
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We trust our secrets to our friends, but they escape from us in love.
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The flatterer does not think highly enough of himself or of others.
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One faithful Friend is enough for a man's self, 'tis much to meet with such an one, yet we can't have too many for the sake of others.
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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.
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We never love with all our heart and all our soul but once, and that is the first time.
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If a secret is revealed, the person who has confided it to another is to be blamed.
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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.
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When a work lifts your spirits and inspires bold and noble thoughts in you, do not look for any other standard to judge by: the work is good, the product of a master craftsman.
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The generality of men expend the early part of their lives in contributing to render the latter part miserable.
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It takes talent to please the people in a sermon by a flowery style, a cheerful ethic, brilliant sallies and lively descriptions but such a talent is inadequate. A better sort of talent neglects these extraneous ornaments, unworthy to be used in the service of the Gospel: such a preacher's sermon will be simple, strong and Christian.
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