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Quote by Jean de la Bruyere

“During the course of our life we now and then enjoy some pleasures so inviting, and have some encounters of so tender a nature, that though they are forbidden, it is but natural to wish that they were at least allowable. Nothing can be more delightful, except it be to abandon them for virtue's sake.”

Quote by Jean de la Bruyere

Author

Jean de la Bruyere

Jean de la Bruyere was a French philosopher and moralist, born on August 16, 1645, and died on May 10, 1696. His works have had a profound impact on posterity. more

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“Some people pretend they never were in love and never wrote poetry; two weaknesses which they dare not own -- one of the heart, the other of the mind.”

People Mind Heart Two Poetry Weakness Dare

Author:Jean de la Bruyere

“It is more or less rude to scorn indiscriminately all kinds of praise; we ought to be proud of that which comes from honest men, who praise sincerely those things in us which are really commendable.”

Men Kind Honest Ought Proud Praise All Kinds Rude Be Proud Scorn Sincerely Honest Man Commendable

Author:Jean de la Bruyere

“Nothing makes us better understand what trifling things Providence thinks He bestows on men in granting them wealth, money, dignities, and other advantages, than the manner in which they are distributed and the kind of men who have the largest share.”

Thinking Men Kind Wealth Share Advantage Dignity Providence Trifling

Author:Jean de la Bruyere

“When, after having read a work, loftier thoughts arise in your mind and noble and heartfelt feelings animate you, do not look for any other rule to judge it by; it is fine and written in a masterly manner.”

Mind Looks Feelings Reading Written Judging Fine Noble Arise Heartfelt

Author:Jean de la Bruyere

“If a secret is revealed, the person who has confided it to another is to be blamed.”

Ifs Persons Secret

Author:Jean de la Bruyere

“Some men promise to keep your secret and yet reveal it without knowing they are doing so; they do not wag their lips, and yet they are understood; it is read on their brow and in their eyes; it is seen through their breast; they are transparent.”

Men Eye Secret Knowing Promise Understood Lips Breasts Transparent Brows Wags

Author:Jean de la Bruyere

“All confidence placed in another is dangerous if it is not perfect, for on almost all occasions we ought to tell everything or to conceal everything. We have already told too much of our secret, if one single circumstance is to be kept back.”

Ifs Perfect Secret Too Much Dangerous Ought Circumstances Occasions Not Perfect All Occasions

Author:Jean de la Bruyere

“Barbarism is the absence of standards to which appeal can be made.”

Made Standards Absence Appeals Barbarism

Book:the Revolt of the Masses

Source: the Revolt of the Masses

“What greater weakness can there be than not to know what is the source of one's being, of one's life, of one's senses, of one's knowledge, and what is to be their end? What can be more deeply disheartening than to wonder whether one's soul is, perhaps, a material thing, like a stone or a reptile, corruptible like these base creatures? Is there not more strength and greatness of mind in admitting the idea of a being superior to all other beings, who has made them all and to whom all owe their existence; of a being supremely perfect, who is pure, who had no beginning and can have no ending, of whom our soul is the image and, so to speak, a portion, being a spiritual and immortal thing?”

“Tyranny has no need of arts or sciences, for its policy, which is very shallow and without any refinement, only consists in shedding blood.”

Needs Art Blood Policy Tyranny Tyrants Shallow Refinement Shedding Blood

Author:Jean de la Bruyere