Johann Kaspar Lavater Quotes

Trust him little who praises all, him less who censures all, and him least of all who is indifferent about all.

Neatness begets order; but from order to taste there is the same difference as from taste to genius, or from love to friendship.

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

"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.

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

Him, who incessantly laughs in the street, you may commonly hear grumbling in his closet.

You are not very good if you are not better than your best friends imagine you to be.

You may tell a man, thou art a fiend, but not, your nose wants blowing. To him alone who can bear a thing of that kind, you may tell all.

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

Si quieres ser sabio, aprende a interrogar razonablemente, a escuchar con atención, a responder serenamente y a callar cuando no tengas nada que decir.

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

He who has no taste for order will be often wrong in his judgements, and seldom considerate or conscientious in his actions.

He who, when called upon to speak a disagreeable truth, tells it boldly and has done, is both bolder and milder than he who nibbles in a low voice, and never ceases nibbling.

Mistrust the man who finds everything good; the man who find everything evil; and more the man who is indifferent to everything.

Who makes quick use of the moment is a genius of prudence.