Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741–1801) was a Swiss theologian, philosopher, and poet. He founded physiognomy, which attempted to systematize how moral and intellectual character of a person can be distinguished by reading people’s facial features.
Born in Zürich, Lavater took Protestant orders in 1769. He became known by a volume of poems, Schweizerlieder (1767, ‘Swiss Songs,’) and his Aussichten in die Ewigkeit (1768–78, ‘Prospects of Eternity’) is characterized by religious enthusiasm and mysticism.
Lavater’s attempt to elevate physiognomy into science is his Physiognomische Fragmente (1775–78; ‘Essays on Physiognomy,’ 5 vols., 1789–98.) Physiognomy evolved into phrenology in the 19th century.
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Johann Kaspar Lavater
Evasions are the common shelter of the hard-hearted, the false, and the impotent when called upon to assist; the real great, alone plan instantaneous help, even when their looks or words presage difficulties.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Wishes run over in loquacious impotence; will presses on with laconic energy.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Wishes
If you see one cold and vehement at the same time, set him down for a fanatic.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Fanaticism
The public seldom forgive twice.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Public
The creditor whose appearance gladdens the heart of a debtor may hold his head in sunbeams, and his foot on storms.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
What do I owe to my times, to my country, to my neighbors, to my friends?—Such are the questions which a virtuous man ought often to ask himself.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Obligation
The worst of all knaves are those who can mimic their former honesty.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
He who has opportunities to inspect the sacred moments of elevated minds, and seizes none, is a son of dullness; but he who turns those moments into ridicule, will betray with a kiss, and in embracing, murder.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Opportunity
He submits to be seen through a microscope, who suffers himself to be caught in a fit of passion.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Passion
He who freely praises what he means to purchase, and he who enumerates the faults of what he means to sell, may set up a partnership with honesty.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Honesty
Receive no satisfaction for premeditated impertinence; forget it, and forgive it, but keep inexorably at a distance him who offered it.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Too much gravity argues a shallow mind.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Depend on no man, on no friend but him who can depend on himself. He only who acts conscientiously toward himself, will act so toward others.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Independence
It is one of my favorite thoughts, that God manifests himself to mankind in all wise, good, humble, generous, great and magnanimous men.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: God
The jealous are possessed by a mad devil and a dull spirit at the same time.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Defects, Jealousy
He only is great who has the habits of greatness; who, after performing what none in ten thousand could accomplish, passes on like Samson, and “tells neither father nor mother of it.”
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Greatness
Trust him with little, who, without proofs, trusts you with everything, or when he has proved you, with nothing.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Confidence
You are not very good if you are not better than your best friends imagine you to be.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Goodness, Character
True philosophy is that which makes us to ourselves and to all about us, better; and at the same time, more content, patient, calm, and more ready for all decent and pure enjoyment.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Philosophy
He who can at all times sacrifice pleasure to duty approaches sublimity.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Pleasure
The prudent see only the difficulties, the bold only the advantages, of a great enterprise; the hero sees both; diminishes the former and makes the latter preponderate, and so conquers.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Heroes, Heroes/Heroism, Heroism
The habit of sneering marks the egotist, the fool, or the knave, or all three.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Insults
There are many kinds of smiles, each having a distinct character. Some announce goodness and sweetness, others betray sarcasm, bitterness, and pride; some soften the countenance by their languishing tenderness, others brighten by their spiritual vivacity.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Smiles, Smile
Let none turn over books, or roam the stars in quest of God, who sees him not in man.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: God, Religion
The procrastinator is not only indolent and weak but commonly false too; most of the weak are false.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Delay
Say not you know another entirely till you have divided an inheritance with him.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Inheritance, Wealth, Divorce
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?
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Gossip
Number among your worst enemies the hawker of malicious rumors and unexplored anecdote.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
He knows very little of mankind who expects, by any facts or reasoning, to convince a determined party man.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Party, Politicians, Politics
Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Genius
Conscience is the sentinel of virtue.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Conscience
Be not too early in the fashion, nor too long out of it; nor at any time in the extremes of it.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Fashion
Affectation lights a candle to our defects, and though it may gratify ourselves, it disgusts all others
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Affectation
Have you ever seen a pedant with a warm heart?
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Learning
The generous who is always just, and the just who is always generous, may, unannounced, approach the throne of heaven.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Heaven, Generosity
Intuition is the clear conception of the whole at once.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Intuition
He who, silent, loves to be with us—he who loves us in our silence—has touched one of the keys that ravish hearts.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Love, Silence
Where there is much pretension, much has been borrowed; nature never pretends.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Injustice arises either from precipitation, or indolence, or from a mixture of both.—The rapid and slow are seldom just; the unjust wait either not at all, or wait too long.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Love sees what no eye sees; love hears what no ear hears; and what never rose in the heart of man love prepares for its object.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Love
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