“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
“I call worldly or earthly those whose minds and hearts are fixed on a tiny portion of this world they live in, which is our earth; who respect and love nothing beyond it: people as limited as what they call their property or their estate, which can be measured, whose acres can be counted, whose boundaries can be shown.” MenMindWellsHeartEarthValuesUniverseKnownLimitsAnd LoveSpotsFixedEstatesWell KnownWorldlyHeart And MindSmall PartsAcresCoarse Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“It is too much for a husband to have a wife who is a coquette and sanctimonious as well; she should select only one of those qualities.” ShouldWellsQualityToo MuchWifeHusbandSelectCoquetteSanctimonious 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
“The whole genius of an author consists in describing well, and delineating character well. Homer, Plato, Virgil, Horace only excel other writers by their expressions and images; we must indicate what is true if we mean to write naturally, forcibly and delicately.” IfsWritingWellsMeanWholeCharacterExpressionGeniusPlatoDescribing 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
“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.” WellsLyingCompanyConversationDrawingClevernessGreat Gifts 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
“The noblest deeds are well enough set forth in simple language; emphasis spoils them.” WellsEnoughActionLanguageSimpleDeedsEmphasisSpoil Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“It is the glory and merit of some men to write well and of others not to write at all.” MenWritingWellsGloryMerit Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“As long as men are liable to die and are desirous to live, a physician will be made fun of, but he will be well paid.” MenWellsLongMadeDiesFunHealthPaidMedicinePhysiciansLiable Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“The very essence of politeness seems to be to take care that by our words and actions we make other people pleased with us as well as with themselves.” PeopleWellsSeemsCareActionEssenceTake CarePolitenessOur WordsWords And Actions Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“It is a great misfortune neither to have enough wit to talk well nor enough judgment to be silent.” WellsEnoughSilenceJudgmentSilentWitMisfortunes Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“It is often easier as well as more advantageous to conform to other men's opinions than to bring them over to ours.” MenWellsOpinionEasierConform Author:Jean de la Bruyere
