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
Each particle of matter is an immensity; each leaf a world; each insect an inexplicable compendium.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Mystery
He submits to be seen through a microscope, who suffers himself to be caught in a fit of passion.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Passion
Thinkers are scarce as gold; but he, whose thoughts embrace all their subject, who pursues it uninterruptedly and fearless of consequences, is a diamond of enormous size.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Thought
He alone is a man, who can resist the genius of the age, the tone of fashion, with vigorous simplicity and modest courage.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Fashion
Vanity and rudeness are seldom seen together.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Vanity
Have you ever seen a pedant with a warm heart?
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Learning
I know no friends more faithful and more inseparable than hard-heartedness and pride, humility and love, lies and impudence.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Vice
He surely is most in need of another’s patience, who has none of his own.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Patience
Affectation lights a candle to our defects, and though it may gratify ourselves, it disgusts all others
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Affectation
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.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
He who has no taste for order, will be often wrong in his judgment, and seldom considerate or conscientious in his actions.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Order, Action
Who gives a trifle meanly is meaner than the trifle.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Gifts
A gift, its kind, its value, and appearance; the silence or the pomp that attends it; the style in which it reaches you, may decide the dignity or vulgarity of the giver.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Gifts
Ornament is but the guiled shore to a most dangerous sea; the beauteous scarf veiling an Indian beauty; in a word, the seeming truth which cunning times put on to entrap the wisest.—Shakespearean finery is a sign of littleness.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
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
He who purposely cheats his friend, would cheat his God.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Cheating
Volatility of words is carelessness in actions; words are the wings of actions.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Words
He, who cannot forgive a trespass of malice to his enemy, has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Forgiveness, Joy, Life, Love, Enjoyment
Humility and love are the essence of true religion; the humble formed to adore; the loving to associate with eternal love.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Humility
There are three classes of men; the retrograde, the stationary and the progressive.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Man, Men
Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Genius
He who gives himself airs of importance exhibits the credentials of impotence.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Pride, Self-Esteem, Conceit
The manner of giving shows the character of the giver, more than the gift itself.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Gifts
Calmness of will is a sign of grandeur. The vulgar, far from hiding their will, blab their wishes. A single spark of occasion discharges the child of passion into a thousand crackers of desire.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Will
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
He is incapable of a truly good action who finds not a pleasure in contemplating the good actions of others.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Appreciation, Action
He who can conceal his joys is greater than he who can hide his griefs.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Grief, Joy
Sensibility is the power of woman.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
You are not very good if you are not better than your best friends imagine you to be.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Character, Goodness
The more honesty a man has, the less he affects the air of a saint.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
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