Cleverness Quote by Jean de La Bruyère
““The true spirit of conversation consists more in bringing out the cleverness of others than in showing a great deal of it yourself; he who goes away pleased with himself and his own wit is also greatly pleased with you. Most men would rather please than admire you; they seek less to be instructed, and even to be amused, than to be praised and applauded.””
About This Quote
Source Book: Les Caractères by Jean de La Bruyère, 1688
Conversation shines when it highlights others' wit rather than one's own; true satisfaction comes from uplifting others, not self‑praise.
In simple terms: Good talk lifts others, not yourself.
Key Takeaway
Focus on drawing out others' ideas.
Themes
humility
communication
empathy
Mood
thoughtful
encouraging
Type
advice
philosophical
When to use this quote
- team meetings
- mentoring
- networking
- public speaking
Key Concepts
social intelligence
ego management
Questions to Reflect On
- How can you encourage others' cleverness?
- What does humility look like in dialogue?
A Different Perspective
May become self‑centered if not checked.
![“The court is like a palace built of marble; I mean that it is made up of very hard but very polished people. [Fr., La cour est comme un edifice bati de marbre; je veux dire qu'elle est composee d'hommes fort durs mais fort polis.]” quote by Jean de la Bruyere](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/fcf/jean-de-la-bruyere-575_built_the-court-is-like-a-palace-built-of-marb_77288.jpg)
