Jean De La Bruyere Quotes

Powerful Jean De La Bruyere for Daily Growth

About Jean De La Bruyere

Jean de La Bruyère (November 16, 1645 – October 10, 1696), a celebrated French moral satirist, was born in the city of Germiny-sur-l'Aubois, Bourges, France. His exact birthdate is unknown, but it is traditionally accepted that he was born on November 16. La Bruyère spent his early years in the service of various noble families, where he observed and absorbed the follies and vices of the French aristocracy. This exposure would later provide rich material for his satirical works. In 1672, he moved to Paris, where he associated with influential literary figures like Boileau and La Fontaine. His first major work, "Caractères des dames," a series of portraits of women in French high society, was published anonymously in 1687. The book was well-received, but it was his subsequent work, "Les Caractères," a collection of essays satirizing the flaws and hypocrisies of various social classes, that cemented his reputation as one of France's greatest moral satirists. Published in 1688, "Les Caractères" was an immediate success and remains one of the most influential works of French literature. La Bruyère's sharp wit and keen insight into human nature continue to resonate, making his work as relevant today as it was centuries ago. Despite his literary accomplishments, La Bruyère lived a modest life. He never married and died in poverty in Paris on October 10, 1696. His works continue to inspire readers and writers alike, offering insights into the human condition that transcend time and culture.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The more we love our dream, the faster it becomes real."

This quote by Jean de La Bruyere suggests that when one has a strong emotional attachment (love) towards their dreams or aspirations, they are likely to work diligently and persistently towards achieving those goals. The intensity of our desire for something makes it more attainable as passion fuels the effort required to turn visions into reality. It also implies that one's belief in their dream can accelerate its manifestation by generating positive energy and motivation.


"We are so often frightened at finding ourselves alone; but I think we should be still more frequently afraid of not being alone enough."

This quote by Jean de La Bruyère suggests that solitude, or being alone, can sometimes be beneficial for personal growth and self-discovery. However, people often fear being alone due to discomfort or loneliness. The author is arguing that we should instead fear not having enough time to ourselves, as it prevents us from truly understanding our own thoughts, feelings, and identity, which are essential aspects of personal development. Essentially, he encourages introspection and the importance of self-reflection in a noisy world.


"Talk does not cook rice."

Jean de La Bruyère's quote, "Talk does not cook rice," emphasizes the difference between idle speech or conversation and productive action. Essentially, it suggests that words alone have little value unless they are followed by tangible results or actions. It's a reminder to focus on what truly matters and take concrete steps towards achieving our goals, rather than getting lost in endless discussions without making any progress.


"One learns to live only from life itself."

This quote by Jean de La Bruyere emphasizes that practical experience is crucial for true understanding and growth in life. In other words, one can only truly understand the nature of life through living it oneself, as theoretical knowledge alone is insufficient. It encourages individuals to actively engage with their own experiences, learn from them, and use those lessons to navigate and thrive in life.


"The greatest thing a man can do in this world is to make the most possible out of what he has."

This quote emphasizes the importance of maximizing one's potential, regardless of the resources or circumstances at hand. Essentially, it encourages individuals to strive for greatness by making the most of their abilities, opportunities, and possessions. It suggests that true success is not just about having much, but rather utilizing what one has to its fullest extent.


There are certain things in which mediocrity is not to be endured, such as poetry, music, painting, public speaking.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Music, Which, Certain Things, Mediocrity

One mark of a second-rate mind is to be always telling stories.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Mind, Always, Telling, Second-Rate

There are only three events in a man's life; birth, life, and death; he is not conscious of being born, he dies in pain, and he forgets to live.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Death, Pain, Born, Events

The court is like a palace of marble; it's composed of people very hard and very polished.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Palace, Marble, Very, Polished

There is no road too long to the man who advances deliberately and without undue haste; there are no honors too distant to the man who prepares himself for them with patience.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Patience, Deliberately, Them, Honors

The first day one is a guest, the second a burden, and the third a pest.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Funny, Third, Day One, Pest

Time makes friendship stronger, but love weaker.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Love, Friendship, Stronger, Weaker

The slave has but one master, the ambitious man has as many as there are persons whose aid may contribute to the advancement of his fortunes.

- Jean de la Bruyere

May, Contribute, Many, Fortunes

A pious man is one who would be an atheist if the king were.

- Jean de la Bruyere

King, Would, Were, Pious

If some persons died, and others did not die, death would be a terrible affliction.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Die, Some, Persons, Affliction

A mediocre mind thinks it writes divinely; a good mind thinks it writes reasonably.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Mind, Mediocre, Good Mind, Divinely

The wise person often shuns society for fear of being bored.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Wise, Society, Person, Wise Person

As favor and riches forsake a man, we discover in him the foolishness they concealed, and which no one perceived before.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Discover, Riches, Which, Forsake

The great gift of conversation lies less in displaying it ourselves than in drawing it out of others. He who leaves your company pleased with himself and his own cleverness is perfectly well pleased with you.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Gift, Own, Perfectly, Displaying

The regeneration of society is the regeneration of society by individual education.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Education, Society, Regeneration

They that have lived a single day have lived an age.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Day, Single, Lived, Single Day

I would not like to see a person who is sober, moderate, chaste and just say that there is no God. They would speak disinterestedly at least, but such a person is not to be found.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Say, Like, Least, Chaste

This great misfortune - to be incapable of solitude.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Great, Solitude, Misfortune, Incapable

It is a sad thing when men have neither the wit to speak well nor the judgment to hold their tongues.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Sad, Wit, Sad Thing, Tongues

He who tip-toes cannot stand; he who strides cannot walk.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Stand, Cannot, He, Strides

The passion of hatred is so long lived and so obstinate a malady that the surest sign of death in a sick person is their desire for reconciliation.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Death, Desire, Obstinate, Reconciliation

One seeks to make the loved one entirely happy, or, if that cannot be, entirely wretched.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Happy, Loved, Wretched, Loved One

Grief at the absence of a loved one is happiness compared to life with a person one hates.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Happiness, Loved, Absence, Loved One

Avoid lawsuits beyond all things; they pervert your conscience, impair your health, and dissipate your property.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Health, Legal, Conscience, Lawsuits

We must laugh before we are happy, for fear of dying without having laughed at all.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Dying, Before, Having, Laugh

The exact contrary of what is generally believed is often the truth.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Truth, Often, Believed, Exact

The sweetest of all sounds is that of the voice of the woman we love.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Love, Woman, Voice, Sweetest

Man has but three events in his life: to be born, to live, and to die. He is not conscious of his birth, he suffers at his death and he forgets to live.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Death, Die, Suffers, Forgets

Marriage, it seems, confines every man to his proper rank.

- Jean de la Bruyere

Marriage, His, Every Man, Rank

Next to sound judgment, diamonds and pearls are the rarest things in the world.

- Jean de la Bruyere

World, Diamonds, Next, Rarest

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