Johann Kaspar Lavater Quotes

If you mean to know yourself, interline such of these aphorisms as affect you agreeably in reading, and set a mark to such as left a sense of uneasiness with you; and then show your copy to whom you please.

He who makes too much or too little of himself has a false measure for everything.

All great minds sympathize.

Make this poor self grow less and less, Be Thou my life and aim ; Oh, make me daily, through Thy grace, More worthy of Thy name.

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

A woman whose ruling passion is not vanity, is superior to any man of equal faculties.

The more honesty a man has, the less he affects the air of a saint — the affectation of sanctity is a blotch on the face of piety.

The prudent sees only the difficulties, the bold only the advantages, of a great enterprise; the hero sees both, diminishes those, makes these preponderate, and conquers.

The craftiest wiles are too short and ragged a cloak to cover a bad heart.

Have you ever seen a pedant with a warm heart?

"About Fuseli: "...the most original genius I know. Nothing but energy, profusion and calm! The wildness of the warrior — and the feeling of supreme sublimity! … His spirits are storm wind, his ministers flames of fire! He goes upon the wings of the wind. His laughter is the mockery of hell and his love — a deadly lightning-flash.

Never tell evil of a man, if you do not know it for certainty, and if you know it for a certainty, then ask yourself, 'Why should I tell it?'

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

Trust not him with your secrets, who, when left alone in your room, turns over your papers.

Who purposely cheats his friend,
would cheat his God.