He who excels in his art so as to carry it to the utmost height of perfection of which it is capable may be said in some measure to go beyond it: his transcendent productions admit of no appellations.
Jean de la BruyereThe pleasure we feel in criticizing robs us from being moved by very beautiful things.
Jean de la BruyereThe whole genius of an author consists in describing well, and delineating character well. Homer, Plato, Virgil, Horace only excel other writers by their expressions and images; we must indicate what is true if we mean to write naturally, forcibly and delicately.
Jean de la BruyereFriendship * * * is a long time in forming, it is of slow growth, through many trials and months of familiarity.
Jean de la BruyereA man unattached and without wife, if he have any genius at all, may raise himself above his original position, may mingle with the world of fashion, and hold himself on a level with the highest; this is less easy for him who is engaged; it seems as if marriage put the whole world in their proper rank.
Jean de la Bruyere