Johann Kaspar Lavater Quotes - Page 4

Who has a daring eye tell downright truths and downright lies.

He whose pride oppresses the humble may perhaps be humbled, but will never be humble.

Sensibility is the power of woman.

The more uniform a man's voice, step, manner of conversation, handwriting--the more quiet, uniform, settled, his actions, his character.

She neglects her heart who too closely studies her glass.

An entirely honest man, in the severe sense of the word, exists no more than an entirely dishonest knave: the best and the worst are only approximations of those qualities. Who are those that never contradict themselves? yet honesty never contradicts itself: Who are those that always contradict themselves? yet knavery is mere self-contradiction. Thus the knowledge of man determines not the things themselves, but their proportions, the quan∣tum of congruities and incongruities.

Words are the wings of actions.

What is the elevation of the soul? A prompt, delicate, certain feeling for all that is beautiful, all that is grand; a quick resolution to do the greatest good by the smallest means; a great benevolence joined to a great strength and great humility.

The horse-laugh indicates brutality of character.

Avoid him who from mere curiosity asks three questions running about a thing that cannot interest Him.

God protects those he loves from worthless reading.

He who always prefaces his tale with laughter, is poised between impertinence and folly.

Vociferation and calmness of character seldom meet in the same person.

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.

Where consequence ceases, there folly, restlessness and misery begin.

In the society of ladies, want of sense is not so unpardonable as want of manners.

The most stormy ebullitions of passion, from blasphemy to murder, are less terrific than one single act of cool villainy.

True genius repeats itself forever, and never repeats itself--one ever varied sense beams novelty and unity on all.

True love, like the eye, can bear no flaw.

No communication or gift can exhaust genius or impoverish charity.

Man without religion is a diseased creature, who would persuade himself he is well and needs not a physician; but woman without religion is raging and monstrous.

Each particle of matter is an immensity, each leaf a world, each insect an inexplicable compendium.

Who values gold above all, considers all else as trifling.

Copiousness and simplicity, variety and unity, constitute real greatness of character.

He who comes from the kitchen, smells of its smoke; and he who adheres to a sect, has something of its cant; the college air pursues the student; and dry inhumanity him who herds with literary pedants.