Jean de la Bruyere
Jean de la Bruyere
Jean de La Bruyèrewas a French philosopher and moralist...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPhilosopher
CountryFrance
expression sublime mind
The sublime only paints the true, and that too in noble objects; it paints it in all its phases, its cause and its effect; it is the most worthy expression or image of this truth. Ordinary minds cannot find out the exact expression, and use synonymes.
success two world
There are but two ways of rising in the world: either by one's own industry or profiting by the foolishness of others. [Fr., Il n'y a au monde que deux manieres de s'elever, ou par sa propre industrie, ou par l'imbecilite des autres.]
causes merit birth
A lofty birth or a large fortune portend merit, and cause it to be the sooner noticed.
news management journalism
The highest reach of a news-writer is an empty Reasoning on Policy, and vain Conjectures on the public Management.
life-and-death long may
A long disease seems to be a halting place between life and death, that death itself may be a comfort to those who die and to those who are left behind.
ignorance men profound
Profound ignorance makes a man dogmatical.
plato character mean
The whole genius of an author consists in describing well, and delineating character well. Homer, Plato, Virgil, Horace only excel other writers by their expressions and images; we must indicate what is true if we mean to write naturally, forcibly and delicately.
strong men garden
How many men are like trees, already strong and full grown, which are transplanted into some gardens, to the astonishment of those people who behold them in these fine spots, where they never saw them grow, and who neither know their beginning nor their progress!
husband wife quality
It is too much for a husband to have a wife who is a coquette and sanctimonious as well; she should select only one of those qualities.
years lasts firsts
The greatest part of mankind employ their first years to make their last miserable.
reflection common scruples
Love has this in common with scruples, that it becomes embittered by the reflections and the thoughts that beset us to free ourselves.
morning lying night
The News-writer lies down at Night in great Tranquillity, upon a piece of News which corrupts before Morning, and which he is obliged to throw away as soon as he awakes.
quality may vices
Cunning is none of the best nor worst qualities; it floats between virtue and vice; there is scarce any exigence where it may not, and perhaps ought not to be supplied by prudence.
flower men tree
It is very rare to find ground which produces nothing; if it is not covered with flowers, with fruit trees and grains, it produces briers and pines. It is the same with man; if he is not virtuous, he becomes vicious.