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

— Jean de la Bruyere

Men blush less for their crimes than for their weaknesses and vanity.

— Jean de la Bruyere

Out of difficulties grow miracles.

— Jean de la Bruyere

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

— Jean de la Bruyere

The most exquisite pleasure is giving pleasure to others.

— Jean de la Bruyere

The nearer we come to great men the more clearly we see that they are only men. They rarely seem great to their valets.

— Jean de la Bruyere

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

There are but two ways of rising in the world: either by one's own industry or profiting by the foolishness of others.

— Jean de la Bruyere

There are certain people who so ardently and passionately desire a thing that from dread of losing it they leave nothing undone to make them lose it.

— Jean de la Bruyere

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

— Jean de la Bruyere