Quotes by Lavater, Johann Kaspar

"The craftiest trickery are too short and ragged a cloak to cover a bad heart."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on deception   

"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."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on dependence
3 fans of this quote   

"Who has a daring eye tell downright truths and downright lies."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on eyes   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on fanatics and fanaticism   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on friends and friendship   

"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."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on genius   

"Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on genius   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on agreement   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on god   

"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?"

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on gossip
3 fans of this quote   

"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."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on heroes and heroism   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on inheritance   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on inheritance   

"Intuition is the clear concept of the whole at once."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on intuition   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on jealousy
3 fans of this quote   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on laughter   

"Beware of him who hates the laugh of a child."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on laughter   

"Have you ever seen a pedant with a warm heart?"

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on learning   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on men   

"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."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on moderation   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on morality   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on opportunity   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on order   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on passion   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on pleasure   

"He knows very little of mankind who expects, by any facts or reasoning, to convince a determined party man."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on politics   

"Airs of importance are the credentials of impotence."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on pride   

"The public seldom forgive twice."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on public   

"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."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on questions   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on reliance   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on secrets   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on knowledge   

"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."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on smile   

"Stubbornness is the strength of the weak."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on stubbornness
4 fans of this quote   

"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."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on candor   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on character
4 fans of this quote   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on character   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on want   

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

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on words
3 fans of this quote   

"Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action for all eternity."

Lavater, Johann Kaspar on action