Jean de La Bruyère (1645–1696): 17th-century French writer and philosopher. The library holds 152 quotes by Jean de La Bruyère. The 60 below are the most quoted; search the library in the maker for the rest.
There is no road too long to the man who advances deliberately and without undue haste; there are no honours too distant to the man who prepares himself for them with patience.
Never risk a joke, even the least offensive in its nature and the most common, with a person who is not well-bred, and possessed of sense to comprehend it.
Under a despotic government there is no such thing as patriotic feeling, and its place is supplied in other ways, by private interest, public fame, and devotion to one’s chief.
Dissimulation, even the most innocent, is always embarrassing; whether with evil intent or not, artifice is always dangerous, and almost inevitably disgraceful.
No road is too long for him who advances slowly and does not hurry, and no attainment is beyond his reach who equips himself with patience to achieve it.
It is difficult to say whether irresolution renders a man the more unhappy or the more despicable; also whether it is productive of worse consequences to make a bad resolution, or none at all.
Finesse is neither a very good nor yet a very bad quality. It hovers between vice and virtue, and there are few occasions in which it cannot be, and perhaps ought not to be superseded by common prudence.
When the people are in agitation, we do not understand how tranquility is to return; and when they are at peace, we do not see how tranquility can depart.
Dissimulation, even the most innocent in its nature, is ever productive of embarrassment; whether the design is evil or not, artifice is always dangerous and almost inevitably disgraceful.
He who has seen the court has seen all this most beautiful, most specious, and best decorated in the world; and he who despises the court after having seen it despises the world.
There is not a more laborious undertaking in the world than that of earning a great name; life comes to a close before one has well schemed out one’s course.
When what you read elevates your mind and fills you with noble aspirations, look for no other rule by which to judge a book; it is good, and is the work of a master-hand.