Jean de la Bruyere Quotes & Sayings (Page 6)

“No man is so perfect, so necessary to his friends, as to give them no cause to miss him less.”

“The court is like a palace of marble; it's composed of people very hard and very polished.”

“The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. He who leaves your company pleased with himself and his own cleverness is perfectly well pleased with you.”

“Between good sense and good taste there lies the difference between a cause and its effect.”

“Children have neither a past nor a future. Thus they enjoy the present, which seldom happens to us.”

“We should keep silent about those in power; to speak well of them almost implies flattery; to speak ill of them while they are alive is dangerous, and when they are dead is cowardly.”

“Man has but three events in his life: to be born, to live, and to die. He is not conscious of his birth, he suffers at his death and he forgets to live.”

“When a book raises your spirit, and inspires you with noble and manly thoughts, seek for no other test of its excellence. It is good, and made by a good workman.”

“I would not like to see a person who is sober, moderate, chaste and just say that there is no God. They would speak disinterestedly at least, but such a person is not to be found.”

“It is boorish to live ungraciously: the giving is the hardest part; what does it cost to add a smile?”