Johann Kaspar Lavater Quotes - Page 7

He who, when called upon to speak a disagreeable truth, tells it boldly and has done is both bolder and milder than he who nibbles in a low voice and never ceases nibbling.

Dread more the blunderer's friendship than the calumniator's enmity.

Have I done aught of value to my fellow-men? Then have I done much for myself.

Intuition is the clear conception of the whole at once.

He who prorogues the honesty of today till to-morrow will probably prorogue his to-morrows to eternity.

Just so far as we are pleased at finding faults, are we displeased at finding perfection.

His calumny is not only the greatest benefit a rogue can confer on us, but the only service he will perform for nothing.

Thinkers are scarce as gold; but he whose thoughts embrace all his subject, and who pursues it uninterruptedly and fearless of consequences, is a diamond of enormous size.

Humility with energy is often mistaken for pride.

All finery is a sign of littleness.

The quicker, the louder, the applause with which another tries to gain you over to his purpose - the bitterer his censure if he miss his aim.

The true friend of truth and good loves them under all forms, but he loves them most under the most simple form.

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.

Fools learn nothing from wise men, but wise men learn much from fools.

Who has witnessed one free and unconstrained act of yours, has witnessed all.

Action, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell character.

The less you can enjoy, the poorer, the scantier yourself - the more you can enjoy, the richer, the more vigorous.

Take here the grand secret; if not of pleasing all, yet of displeasing none, and court mediocrity, avoid originality, and sacrifice to fashion.

The more unharmonious and inconsistent your objects of desire, the more inconsequent, inconstant, unquiet, the more ignoble, idiotical, and criminal yourself.

Decided ends are sure signs of a decided character.

If you see one cold and vehement at the same time, set him down for a fanatic.

The great rule of moral conduct is next to God, respect time.

A single spark of occasion discharges the child of passions into a thousand crackers of desire.

Who is fatal to others is so to himself.

He is incapable of a truly good action who finds not a pleasure in contemplating the good actions of others.