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

More quotes by Johann Kaspar Lavater

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To realize that you were mistaken, is just the acknowledgement , that you are wiser today than you were yesterday.
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.
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Who knows whence he comes, where he is, and whither he tends, he, and he alone, is wise.
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Who is open without levity generous without waste secret without craft humble without meanness bold without insolence cautious without anxiety regular, yet not formal mild, yet not timid firm, yet not tyrannical - is made to pass the ordeal of honour, friendship, virtue.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Airs of importance are the credentials of impotence.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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The true friend of truth and good loves them under all forms, but he loves them most under the most simple form.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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He knows very little of mankind who expects, by any facts or reasoning, to convince a determined party man.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Kiss the hand of him who can renounce what he has publicly taught when convicted of his error, and who, with heartfelt joy, embraces truth, though with the sacrifice of favourite opinions.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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You may depend upon it that he is a good man whose intimate friends are all good, and whose enemies are decidedly bad.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Trust him not with your secrets, who, when left alone in your room, turns over your papers.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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I am prejudiced in favor of him who, without impudence, can ask boldly. He has faith in humanity, and faith in himself. No one who is not accustomed to giving grandly can ask nobly and with boldness.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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All finery is a sign of littleness.
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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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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She whom smiles and tears make equally lovely may command all hearts.
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 boldly interposes between a merciless censor and his prey, is a man of vigor: and he who, mildly wise, without wounding, convinces him of his error, commands our veneration.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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A great passion has no partner.
Johann Kaspar Lavater
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Stubbornness is the strength of the weak.
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