“It is a great misfortune not to possess sufficient wit to speak well, nor sufficient judgment to keep silent.” WellsSpeakSpeechJudgmentSilentWitSufficientMisfortunes Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“Profound ignorance makes a man dogmatic. The man who knows nothing thinks he is teaching others what he has just learned himself; the man who knows a great deal can't imagine that what he is saying is not common knowledge, and speaks more indifferently.” ThinkingKnowsMenSpeakDealsCommonImagineTeachingIgnoranceHe ManSpeechProfoundImagine ThatDogmaticCommon KnowledgeTeaching Others Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“We should only endeavour to think and speak correctly ourselves, without wishing to bring others over to our taste and opinions.” ThinkingShouldSpeakWishOpinionTasteEndeavour Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“For some people, speaking and giving offence are one and the same thing. They are spiteful and bitter; their style is infused with gall and wormwood; mockery, abuse and insults flow from their lips like spittle.” PeopleSpeak Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“There is speaking well, speaking easily, speaking justly and speaking seasonably: It is offending against the last, to speak of entertainments before the indigent; of sound limbs and health before the infirm; of houses and lands before one who has not so much as a dwelling; in a word, to speak of your prosperity before the miserable; this conversation is cruel, and the comparison which naturally arises in them betwixt their condition and yours is excruciating.” WellsLastsHouseSpeakSoundLandConditionsConversationProsperityEntertainmentAriseMiserableComparisonLimbsDwellingOffendingSpeaking Well Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“An egotist will always speak of himself, either in praise or in censure, but a modest man ever shuns making himself the subject of his conversation.” MenSpeakSubjectsConversationPraiseModestEgotismCensure Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“There are some who speak one moment before they think” ThinkingMomentsSpeak Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“A man who knows the court is master of his gestures, of his eyes and of his face; he is profound, impenetratable; he dissimulates bad offices, smiles at his enemies, controls his irritation, disguises his passions, belies his heartm speaks and acts against his feelings.” KnowsMenFeelingsEyeFacesPassionSpeakEnemyMastersOfficeCourtProfoundHis EyesGesturesDisguiseIrritation Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“It is a sad thing when men have neither enough intelligence to speak well nor enough sense to hold their tongues; this is the root of all impertinence.” MenWellsSpeakJudgmentTongueWitSad Things Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“To be among people one loves, that's sufficient; to dream, to speak to them, to be silent among them, to think of indifferent things; but among them, everything is equal.” PeopleThinkingLoveDreamSpeakQuietEqualSilentSufficientIndifferentOne Love Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“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.” ShouldWellsSpeakPowerAliveDangerousSilentIllFlatteryCowardly Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“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.” PersonsGodFoundSpeakSoberModeratesThere Is No GodChaste Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“A vain man finds it wise to speak good or ill of himself; a modest man does not talk of himself.” MenDoeSpeakWiseIllVainModestyModestFalse Modesty Author:Jean de la Bruyere
