Swiss poet & physiognomist (1741-1801)
Who gives is positive; who receives is negative; still there remains an immense class of mere passives.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
The ambitious sacrifices all to what he terms honor, as the miser all to money.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Who has witnessed one free and unconstrained act of yours, has witnessed all.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Who will sacrifice nothing, and enjoy all, is a fool.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
He, who boldly interposes between a merciless censor and his prey, is a man of vigor: and he who, mildly wise, without wounding, convinces him of his error, commands our veneration.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action to all eternity.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
attributed, Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers
As the impudence of flattery, so the impudence of egotism.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Who is fatal to others is so to himself.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Who forces himself on others, is to himself a load.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
The horse-laugh indicates brutality of character.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Where consequence ceases, there folly, restlessness and misery begin.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
The most stormy ebullitions of passion, from blasphemy to murder, are less terrific than one single act of cool villainy.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Avoid the eye that discovers with rapidity the bad, and is slow to see the good.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Humility with energy is often mistaken for pride.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Who is respectable when thinking himself alone and free from observation will be so before the eye of all the world.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
The smiles that encourage severity of judgment hide malice and insincerity.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man
Who makes quick use of the moment is a genius of prudence.
JOHANN KASPAR LAVATER
Aphorisms on Man