Jean de la Bruyere

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

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

We never deceive for a good purpose: knavery adds malice to
falsehood.
[Fr., On ne trompe point en read more

We never deceive for a good purpose: knavery adds malice to
falsehood.
[Fr., On ne trompe point en bien; la fourberie ajoute la malice
au mensonge.]

You think him to be your dupe; if he feigns to be so who is the
greater dupe, he read more

You think him to be your dupe; if he feigns to be so who is the
greater dupe, he or you?
[Fr., Vous le croyez votre dupe: s'il feint de l'etre, qui est
plus dupe, de lui ou de vous?]

The wise man sometimes flees from society from fear of being
bored.

The wise man sometimes flees from society from fear of being
bored.

The favor of princes does not preclude the existence of merit,
and yet does not prove that it exists.
read more

The favor of princes does not preclude the existence of merit,
and yet does not prove that it exists.
[Fr., La faveur des princes n'exclut pas le merite, et ne le
suppose pas aussi.]