Quotes from lavater johann kaspar

Where there is much pretension, much has been borrowed: nature never pretends.

He who always prefaces his tale with laughter, is poised between impertinence and folly.

Who, under pressing temptations to lie, adheres to truth, nor to the profane betrays aught of a sacred trust, is near the summit of wisdom and virtue.

Know in the first place, that mankind agree in essence, as they do in limbs and senses.

He alone is a man, who can resist the genius of the age, the tone of fashion, with vigorous simplicity and modest courage.

Who seldom speaks, and with one calm well-timed word can strike dumb the loquacious--is a genius or a hero.

All affectation is the vain and ridiculous attempt of poverty to appear rich.

The friend of order has made half his way to virtue.

Weaknesses, so called, are nothing more nor less than vices in disguise.

The discovery of truth, by slow progressive meditation, is wisdom.--Intuition of truth, not preceded by perceptible meditation, is genius.

A great passion has no partner.

Man is forever the same; the same under every form, in all situations and relations that admit of free and unrestrained exertion. The same regard which you have for yourself, you have for others, for nature, for the invisible ... which you call God.

The humblest star twinkles most in the darkest night.

He knows not how to speak who cannot be silent.

The procrastinator is not only indolent and weak, but commonly false too.

Be certain that he who has betrayed thee once will betray thee again.

The more uniform a man's voice, step, manner of conversation, handwriting--the more quiet, uniform, settled, his actions, his character.

Whenever a man undergoes a considerable change, in consequence of being observed by others, whenever he assumes another gait, another language, than what he had before he thought himself observed, be advised to guard yourself against him.

Each particle of matter is an immensity, each leaf a world, each insect an inexplicable compendium.

Who is open without levity; generous without waste; secret without craft; humble without meanness; bold without insolence; cautious without anxiety; regular, yet not formal; mild, yet not timid; firm, yet not tyrannical--is made to pass the ordeal of honor, friendship, virtue.