Jean de La Bruyère (UK: /ˌlæ bruːˈjɛər/,[1] UK: /ˌlɑː bruːˈjɛər, ˌlɑː briːˈɛər/,[2][3] French: [ʒɑ̃ d(ə) la bʁɥijɛʁ]; 16 August 1645 – 11 May 1696) was a French philosopher and moralist, who was noted for his satire. (wikipedia)
Rarely do they appear great before their valets. [Fr., Rarement ils sont grands vis-a-vis de leur valets-de-chambre.]
The generality of men expend the early part of their lives in contributing to render the latter part miserable.
Jesting, often, only proves a want of intellect. [Fr., La moquerie est souvent une indigence d'esprit.]
A man of variable mind is not one man, but several men in one; he multiplies himself as often as he changes his taste and manners; he is not this minute what he was the last, and will not be the next what he is now; he is his own successor.
What the people call eloquence is the facility some persons have of speaking alone and for a long time, aided by extravagant gestures, a loud voice, and powerful lungs.
To make a book is as much a trade as to make a clock; something more than intelligence is required to become an author.
Profound ignorance makes a man dogmatic. The man who knows nothing thinks he is teaching others what he has just learned himself; the man who knows a great deal can't imagine that what he is saying is not common knowledge, and speaks more indifferently.
There is no excess in the world so commendable as excessive gratitude.
The lives of heroes have enriched history, and history has adorned the actions of heroes ; and thus I cannot say whether the historians are more indebted to those who provided them with such noble materials, or those great men to their historians.
It is better to expose ourselves to ingratitude than to neglect our duty to the distressed.