Johann Kaspar Lavater
Johann Kaspar Lavater
Johann KasparLavaterwas a Swiss poet, writer, philosopher, physiognomist and theologian...
NationalityGerman
ProfessionTheologian
Date of Birth15 November 1741
CountryGermany
mind too-much arguing
Too much gravity argues a shallow mind.
honesty knaves knavery
The worst of all knaves are those who can mimic their former honesty.
class giving negative
Who gives is positive; who receives is negative; still there remains an immense class of mere passives.
forever unity genius
True genius repeats itself forever, and never repeats itself--one ever varied sense beams novelty and unity on all.
ambition sacrifice honor
The ambitious sacrifices all to what he terms honor, as the miser all to money.
wise mind restless
There is no mortal truly wise and restless at once; wisdom is the repose of minds.
weakness vices disguise
Weaknesses, so called, are nothing more nor less than vice in disguise!
weak obstinacy fiery
The obstinacy of the indolent and weak is less conquerable than that of the fiery and bold.
order law generosity
Obstinacy is the strength of the weak. Firmness founded upon principle, upon the truth and right, order and law, duty and generosity, is the obstinacy of sages.
misers
The miser robs himself.
character home doors
Avoid connecting yourself with characters whose good and bad sides are unmixed and have not fermented together; they resemble vials of vinegar and oil; or palletts set with colors; they are either excellent at home and insufferable abroad, or intolerable within doors and excellent in public; they are unfit for friendship, merely because their stamina, their ingredients of character are too single, too much apart; let them be finely ground up with each other, and they are incomparable.
misery folly cease
Where consequence ceases, there folly, restlessness and misery begin.
judging ends severity
Who begins with severity, in judging of another, ends commonly with falsehood.
forgiving enemy sublime
He, who cannot forgive a trespass of malice to his enemy, has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love.