Johann Kaspar Lavater

Stubbornness is the strength of the weak.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

A great passion has no partner.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

True love, like the eye, can bear no flaw.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Who is fatal to others is so to himself.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

The miser robs himself.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

The immoderate cannot laugh moderately.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Words are the wings of actions.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Half talent is no talent.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Avoid the eye that discovers with rapidity the bad, and is slow to see the good.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Truth, wisdom, love, seek reasons; malice only seeks causes.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

The ambitious sacrifices all to what he terms honor, as the miser all to money.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

In the society of ladies, want of sense is not so unpardonable as want of manners.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Fools learn nothing from wise men, but wise men learn much from fools.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

She whom smiles and tears make equally lovely may command all hearts.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Who has witnessed one free and unconstrained act of yours, has witnessed all.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

The true friend of truth and good loves them under all forms, but he loves them most under the most simple form.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Do not believe that a book is good, if in reading it thou dost not become more contented with thy existence, if…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Trust him with none of thy individualities who is, or pretends to be, two things at once.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Take here the grand secret; if not of pleasing all, yet of displeasing none, and court mediocrity, avoid originality, and sacrifice to…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

The quicker, the louder, the applause with which another tries to gain you over to his purpose - the bitterer his censure…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Thinkers are scarce as gold; but he whose thoughts embrace all his subject, and who pursues it uninterruptedly and fearless of consequences,…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Kiss the hand of him who can renounce what he has publicly taught when convicted of his error, and who, with heartfelt…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

He who attempts to make others believe in means which he himself despises is a puffer; he who makes use of more…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Venerate four characters: the sanguine who has checked volatility and the rage for pleasure; the choleric who has subdued passion and pride;…

— 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;…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Before thou callest a man hero or genius, investigate whether his exertion has features of indelibility; for all that is celestial, all…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Whatever obscurities may involve religious tenets, humility and love constitute the essence of true religion; the humble is formed to adore, the…

— 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.…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

True worth is as inevitably discovered by the facial expression, as its opposite is sure to be clearly represented there. The human…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

An entirely honest man, in the severe sense of the word, exists no more than an entirely dishonest knave: the best and…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Many very intelligent agreeable persons have warts on the forehead, not brown, nor very large, between the eyebrows, which have nothing in…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Avoid connecting yourself with characters whose good and bad sides are unmixed and have not fermented together; they resemble vials of vinegar…

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

All finery is a sign of littleness.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Too much gravity argues a shallow mind.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Where pride begins, love ceases.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

He scatters enjoyment who can enjoy much.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater

Wisdom is the repose of the mind.

— Johann Kaspar Lavater