Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— 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

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Conscience is the sentinel of virtue.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— 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

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— 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

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

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

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Intuition is the clear concept of the whole at once.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Beware of him who hates the laugh of a child.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Have you ever seen a pedant with a warm heart?

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— 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

Airs of importance are the credentials of impotence.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

The public seldom forgive twice.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

Stubbornness is the strength of the weak.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater