JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER QUOTES

Swiss poet & physiognomist (1741-1801)

Johann Kaspar Lavater quote

Where there is much pretension, much has been borrowed: nature never pretends.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

attributed, Mental Recreation; or, Select Maxims


He who always prefaces his tale with laughter, is poised between impertinence and folly.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: laughter


The discovery of truth, by slow progressive meditation, is wisdom.--Intuition of truth, not preceded by perceptible meditation, is genius.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: truth


All affectation is the vain and ridiculous attempt of poverty to appear rich.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: poverty


The friend of order has made half his way to virtue.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: order


He alone is a man, who can resist the genius of the age, the tone of fashion, with vigorous simplicity and modest courage.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: fashion


Who, under pressing temptations to lie, adheres to truth, nor to the profane betrays aught of a sacred trust, is near the summit of wisdom and virtue.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: virtue


Know in the first place, that mankind agree in essence, as they do in limbs and senses.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man


The humblest star twinkles most in the darkest night.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: stars


Weaknesses, so called, are nothing more nor less than vices in disguise.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: weakness


Be certain that he who has betrayed thee once will betray thee again.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: betrayal


A great passion has no partner.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: passion


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

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man


Each particle of matter is an immensity, each leaf a world, each insect an inexplicable compendium.

JOHANN CASPAR LAVATER

Physiognomy


He knows not how to speak who cannot be silent.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: silence


Who is open without levity; generous without waste; secret without craft; humble without meanness; bold without insolence; cautious without anxiety; regular, yet not formal; mild, yet not timid; firm, yet not tyrannical--is made to pass the ordeal of honor, friendship, virtue.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man


Man is forever the same; the same under every form, in all situations and relations that admit of free and unrestrained exertion. The same regard which you have for yourself, you have for others, for nature, for the invisible ... which you call God.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: God


Whenever a man undergoes a considerable change, in consequence of being observed by others, whenever he assumes another gait, another language, than what he had before he thought himself observed, be advised to guard yourself against him.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man


The more uniform a man's voice, step, manner of conversation, handwriting--the more quiet, uniform, settled, his actions, his character.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

Aphorisms on Man

Tags: character


The procrastinator is not only indolent and weak, but commonly false too.

JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER

attributed, Day's Collacon

Tags: procrastination