Johann Kaspar Lavater Quotes (50 Quotes)

Intuition is the clear conception of the whole at once.

To know yourself you have only to set down a true statement of those that ever loved or hated you.

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.

The cruelty of the weak is more dreadful than that of the strong.

He submits to be seen through a microscope, who suffers himself to be caught in a fit of passion.

Intuition is the clear concept of the whole at once.

I am prejudiced in favor of him who, without impudence, can ask boldly. He has faith in humanity, and faith in himself. No one who is not accustomed to giving grandly can ask nobly and with boldness.

The procrastinator is not only indolent and weak but commonly false too most of the weak are false.

Conscience is the sentinel of virtue.

It is one of my favorite thoughts, that God manifests himself to mankind in all wise, good, humble, generous, great and magnanimous men.

The qualities of your friends will be those of your enemies, cold friends, cold enemies half friends, half enemies fervid enemies, warm friends.

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

He who seldom speaks, and with one calm well-timed word can strike dumb the loquacious, is a genius or a hero.

If you see one cold and vehement at the same time, set him down for a fanatic.

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

The great rule of moral conduct is next to God, respect time.

Let none turn over books, or roam the stars in quest of God, who sees him not in man.

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.

Volatility of words is carelessness in actions words are the wings of actions.

You may depend upon it that he is a good man whose intimate friends are all good, and whose enemies are decidedly bad.

Three days of uninterrupted company in a vehicle will make you better acquainted with another, than one hour's conversation with him every day for three years.

The generous who is always just, and the just who is always generous, may, unannounced, approach the throne of heaven.

Action, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell character.

Be not the fourth friend of him who had three before And lost them.

He who purposely cheats his friend would cheat his God.

Never say you know a man until you have divided an inheritance with him.

The more honesty a man has, the less he affects the air of a saint.

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

The jealous are possessed by a mad devil and a dull spirit at the same time.

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

The public seldom forgive twice.

He is incapable of truly good action who finds not a pleasure in contemplating the good actions of others.

He, who cannot forgive a trespass of malice to his enemy, has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love.

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.

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.

Thinkers are scarce as gold but he whose thoughts embrace All his subject, pursues it uninterruptedly and fearless of consequences, is a diamond of enormous size.

If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you know already.

There are three classes of men; the retrograde, the stationary and the progressive.

Have you ever seen a pedant with a warm heart?

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

Weaknesses, so called, are nothing more nor less than vice in disguise.

Mistrust the person who finds everything good, and the person who finds everything evil, and mistrust even more the person who is indifferent to everything.

When you doubt between words, use the plainest, the commonest, the most idiomatic. Eschew fine words as you would rouge love simple ones as you would the native roses on your cheek.

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.

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.

He can feel no little wants who is in pursuit of grandeur.

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

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

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.

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?