Johann Kaspar Lavater Quotes

He submits himself to be seen through a microscope, who suffers himself to be caught in a fit of passion.

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

It is a poor wit who lives by borrowing the words, decisions, mien, inventions and actions of others.

Do not believe that a book is good, if in reading it thou dost not become more contented with thy existence, if it does not rouse up in thee most generous feelings.

Kiss the hand of him who can renounce what he has publicly taught when convicted of his error, and who, with heartfelt joy, embraces truth, though with the sacrifice of favourite opinions.

All finery is a sign of littleness.

Three days of uninterrupted company in a vehicle will make you better acquainted with another, than one hour's conversation with him every day for three years.

All belief that does not make us more happy, more free, more loving, more active, more calm, is, I fear, a mistaken and superstitious belief.

He who is passionate and hasty is generally honest. It is your cool, dissembling hypocrite of whom you should beware.

Airs of importance are the credentials of impotence.

If you see one cold and vehement at the same time, set him down for a fanatic.

The public seldom forgive twice.

Conscience is wiser than science.

Say not you know another entirely till you have divided an inheritance with him.

In the society of ladies, want of sense is not so unpardonable as want of manners.

Take here the grand secret; if not of pleasing all, yet of displeasing none, and court mediocrity, avoid originality, and sacrifice to fashion.

A beautiful smile is to the female countenance what the sunbeam is to the landscape; it embellishes an inferior face and redeems an ugly one.

Beware of biting jests; the more truth they carry with them, the greater wounds they give, the greater smarts they cause, and the greater scars they leave behind them.

Have I done aught of value to my fellow-men? Then have I done much for myself.

Good-humor is always a success.

The less you can enjoy, the poorer, the scantier yourself - the more you can enjoy, the richer, the more vigorous.

He who reforms himself has done more towards reforming the public than a crowd or noisy, impotent patriots.

Vociferation and calmness of character seldom meet in the same person.

Vanity and rudeness are seldom seen together.

He who goes round about in his requests wants commonly more than he chooses to appear to want.

Don't speak evil of someone if you don't know for certain, and if you do know ask yourself, why am I telling it?

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

If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you already know.

He can feel no little wants who is in pursuit of grandeur.

How few our real wants, and how vast our imaginary ones!

Evasions are the common shelter of the hard-hearted, the false, and impotent, when called upon to assist; the real great alone plan instantaneous help, even when their looks or words presage difficulties.

To realize that you were mistaken, is just the acknowledgement , that you are wiser today than you were yesterday.

She whom smiles and tears make equally lovely may command all hearts.

Where pride begins, love ceases.

The affectation of sanctity is a blotch on the face of piety.

Let none turn over books, or roam the stars in quest of God, who sees him not in man.

Just so far as we are pleased at finding faults, are we displeased at finding perfection.

He surely is most in need of another's patience, who has none of his own.

Wisdom is the repose of the mind.

Sensibility is the power of woman.

God protects those he loves from worthless reading.

Superstition always inspires littleness, religion grandeur of mind; the superstitious raises beings inferior to himself to deities.

The creditor whose appearance gladdens the heart of a debtor may hold his head in sunbeams and his foot on storms.

He who purposely cheats his friend would cheat his God.

Receive no satisfaction for premeditated impertinence - forget it, forgive it - but keep him inexorably at a distance who of∣fered it.

Who has a daring eye tell downright truths and downright lies.

He is incapable of a truly good action who finds not a pleasure in contemplating the good actions of others.

The man who loves with his whole heart truth will love still more he who suffers for truth.