Jean de la Bruyere Giving Quotations

It's motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.

It is boorish to live ungraciously: the giving is the hardest part; what does it cost to add a smile?

Liberality consists less in giving a great deal than in gifts well-timed.

It is motive alone that gives real value to the actions of men, and disinterestedness puts the cap to it.

Politeness does not always inspire goodness, equity, complaisance, and gratitude; it gives at least the appearance of these qualities, and makes man appear outwardly, as he should be within.

Life is short and tedious, and is wholly spent in wishing; we trust to find rest and enjoyment at some future time, often at an age when our best blessings, youth and health, have already left us. When at last I that time has arrived, it surprises us in the midst of fresh desires; we have got no farther when we are attacked by a fever which kills us; if we had been cured, it would only have been to give us more time for other desires.

Modesty is to merit, what shade is to figures in a picture; it gives it strength and makes it stand out.

There are some extraordinary fathers, who seem, during the whole course of their lives, to be giving their children reasons for being consoled at their death.

Love seizes us suddenly, without giving warning, and our disposition or our weakness favors the surprise; one look, one glance, from the fair fixes and determines us.

There are few wives so perfect as not to give their husbands at least once a day good reason to repent of ever having married, or at least of envying those who are unmarried.

To give awkwardly is churlishness. The most difficult part is to give, then why not add a smile?

It is a proof of boorishness to confer a favor with a bad grace; it is the act of giving that is hard and painful. How little does a smile cost?

Generosity lies less in giving much than in giving at the right moment.

The most exquisite pleasure is giving pleasure to others.