Superstition always inspires bitterness; religion, grandeur of mind.—The superstitious man raises beings inferior to himself to deities.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Superstition
Number among your worst enemies the hawker of malicious rumors and unexplored anecdote.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
He who gives himself airs of importance exhibits the credentials of impotence.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Conceit, Self-Esteem, Pride
Intuition is the clear conception of the whole at once.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Intuition
Volatility of words is carelessness in actions; words are the wings of actions.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Words
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
Who in the same given time can produce more than others has vigor; who can produce more and better, has talents; who can produce what none else can, has genius.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Genius
He who sedulously attends, pointedly asks, calmly speaks, coolly answers, and ceases when he has no more to say, is in possession of some of the best requisites of conversation.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Conversation
Where there is much pretension, much has been borrowed; nature never pretends.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
The less you can enjoy, the poorer and scantier yourself; the more you can enjoy, the richer and more vigorous.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Enjoyment
Be assured those will be thy worst enemies, not to whom thou hast done evil, but who have done evil to thee.—And those will be thy best friends, not to whom thou hast done good, but who have done good to thee.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Enemies
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 that hath no friend, and no enemy, is one of the vulgar; and without talents, powers, or energy.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Friendship
Sensibility is the power of woman.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Who cannot make one in the circle of harmless merriment may be suspected of pride, hypocrisy, or formality.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Genius
He knows not how to speak who cannot be silent; still less how to act with vigor and decision. Who hastens to the end is silent; loudness is impotence.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Silence
A sneer is often the sign of heartless malignity.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Insults
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
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.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Sincerity, Candor
He who prorogues the honesty of today till tomorrow, will probably prorogue his tomorrows to eternity.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Procrastination
Too much gravity argues a shallow mind.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
The worst of all knaves are those who can mimic their former honesty.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Trust him little who praises all, him less who censures all, and him least who is indifferent about all.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Praise, Trust, Confidence
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 reforms himself, has done more toward reforming the public, that a crowd of noisy, impotent patriots.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Reform
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
No communications can exhaust genius; no gifts impoverish charity.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Obstinacy is the strength of the weak. Firmness founded upon principle, upon truth and right, order and law, duty and generosity, is the obstinacy of sages.
—Johann Kaspar Lavater
Topics: Attitude
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
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Jean Antoine Petit-Senn Swiss Poet
- Hermann Hesse Swiss Novelist, Poet
- Thomas Browne English Author, Physician
- Henri Frederic Amiel Swiss Philosopher, Writer
- John C. Maxwell American Author, Speaker
- Karl Barth Swiss Protestant Theologian
- Alberto Giacometti Swiss Sculptor, Painter
- Jean-Jacques Rousseau French Philosopher
- Johann Heinrich Pestalozzi Swiss Educator
- Carl Gustav Jung Swiss Psychologist
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