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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
Originality
Fashion
Mediocrity
Secret
Take
Grand
Avoid
None
Court
Displeasing
Sacrifice
Pleasing
Clothes

More quotes by Johann Kaspar Lavater

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Joy and grief decide character. What exalts prosperity? what imbitters grief? what leaves us indifferent? what interests us? As the interest of man, so his God - as his God, so he.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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The conscience is more wise than science.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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True worth is as inevitably discovered by the facial expression, as its opposite is sure to be clearly represented there. The human face is nature's tablet, the truth is certainly written thereon.
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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Neatness begets order but from order to taste there is the same difference as from taste to genius, or from love to friendship.
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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It is one of my favorite thoughts that God manifests Himself to men in all the wise, good, humble, generous, great, and magnanimous men.
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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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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Who despises all that is despicable is made to be impressed with all that is grand.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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He submits himself to be seen through a microscope, who suffers himself to be caught in a fit of passion.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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It is a poor wit who lives by borrowing the words, decisions, mien, inventions and actions of others.
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 wrath that on conviction subsides into mildness, is the wrath of a generous mind.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Before thou callest a man hero or genius, investigate whether his exertion has features of indelibility for all that is celestial, all genius, is the offspring of immortality.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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He who, silent, loves to be with us - he who loves us in our silence - has touched one of the keys that ravish hearts.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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If you see one cold and vehement at the same time, set him down for a fanatic.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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The creditor whose appearance gladdens the heart of a debtor may hold his head in sunbeams and his foot on storms.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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The public seldom forgive twice.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Have I done aught of value to my fellow-men? Then have I done much for myself.
Johann Kaspar Lavater