“A prince wants only the pleasure of private life to complete his happiness.” Quote by Jean de la Bruyere
“Duty is what goes most against the grain, because in doing that we do only what we are strictly obliged to, and are seldom much praised for it.” DutyGrainObliged Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“The pleasure a man of honor enjoys in the consciousness of having performed his duty is a reward he pays himself for all his pains.” MenPainEnjoyPleasurePayConsciousnessDutyHonorRewards 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
“Avoid making yourself the subject of conversation.” SubjectsConversationEgotism Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“Laziness begat wearisomeness, and this put men in quest of diversions, play and company, on which however it is a constant attendant; he who works hard, has enough to do with himself otherwise.” MenHardEnoughPlayCompanyHard WorkConstantEmploymentLazinessQuestsDiversion Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“He who excels in his art so as to carry it to the utmost height of perfection of which it is capable may be said in some measure to go beyond it: his transcendent productions admit of no appellations.” MayArtSaidCapablePerfectionExcellenceProductionsHeightTranscendent Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“Extremes are vicious, and proceed from men; compensation is just, and proceeds from God.” MenExtremesViciousCompensation Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“Favor exalts a man above his equals, but his dismissal from that favor places him below them.” MenFavorsDismissal Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“A fool is one whom simpletons believe to be a man on merit. [Fr., Un fat celui que les sots croient un homme de merite.]” MenBelieveFoolFatsMeritFollyBe A ManSimpletons Author:Jean de la Bruyere
“An assembly of the states, a court of justice, shows nothing so serious and grave as a table of gamesters playing very high; a melancholy solicitude clouds their looks; envy and rancor agitate their minds while the meeting lasts, without regard to friendship, alliances, birth or distinctions.” MindLooksStatesShowsLastsJusticeSeriousBirthRegardTablesCourtMeetingsCloudsEnvyGravesDistinctionGamblingMelancholyAlliancesAssemblyAgitateSolicitudeRancor Author:Jean de la Bruyere