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Take here the grand secret if not of pleasing all, yet of displeasing none, and court mediocrity, avoid originality, and sacrifice to fashion.

Johann Kaspar Lavater

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Johann Kaspar Lavater
Age: 59 †
Born: 1741
Born: November 15
Died: 1801
Died: January 2
Criminologist
Illustrator
Painter
Philosopher
Poet
Theologian
Writer
City of Zurich
Johann Caspar Lavater
J. C. Lavater
j. c. lavater
Take
Grand
Avoid
None
Court
Sacrifice
Displeasing
Clothes
Pleasing
Fashion
Originality
Secret
Mediocrity

More quotes by Johann Kaspar Lavater

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He who seldom speaks, and with one calm well-timed word can strike dumb the loquacious, is a genius or a hero.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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The discovery of truth, by slow progressive meditation, is wisdom. - Intuition of truth, not preceded by perceptible meditation, is genius.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Three things characterize man: person, fate, merit--the harmony of these constitutes real grandeur.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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True genius repeats itself forever, and never repeats itself--one ever varied sense beams novelty and unity on all.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Do not believe that a book is good, if in reading it thou dost not become more contented with thy existence, if it does not rouse up in thee most generous feelings.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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He who attempts to make others believe in means which he himself despises is a puffer he who makes use of more means than he knows to be necessary is a quack and he who ascribes to those means a greater efficacy than his own experience warrants is an impostor.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Intuition is the clear conception of the whole at once.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Don't speak evil of someone if you don't know for certain, and if you do know ask yourself, why am I telling it?
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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As your enemies and your friends, so are you
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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The affectation of sanctity is a blotch on the face of piety.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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When you doubt between words, use the plainest, the commonest, the most idiomatic. Eschew fine words as you would rouge love simple ones as you would the native roses on your cheek.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Who makes quick use of the moment is a genius of prudence.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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He who can conceal his joys, is greater than he who can hide his griefs
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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He surely is most in need of another's patience, who has none of his own.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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You may tell a man thou art a fiend, but not your nose wants blowing to him alone who can bear a thing of that kind, you may tell all.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Close thine ear against him that shall open his mouth secretly against another. If thou receivest not his words, they fly back and wound the reporter. If thou dost receive them, they fly forward and wound the receiver.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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If you mean to know yourself, interline such of these aphorisms as affect you agreeably in reading, and set a mark to such as left a sense of uneasiness with you and then show your copy to whom you please.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Vociferation and calmness of character seldom meet in the same person.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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He who purposely cheats his friend would cheat his God.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Wisdom is the repose of the mind.
Johann Kaspar Lavater