1741-1801, Swiss Theologian, Mystic
Act well at the moment, and you have performed a good action for all eternity.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Action]
Action, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell character.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Character]
Airs of importance are the credentials of impotence.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Pride]
Be not the fourth friend of him who had three before and lost them.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Friends and Friendship]
Beware of him who hates the laugh of a child.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Laughter]
Conscience is the sentinel of virtue.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Conscience]
Depend on no man, on no friend but him who can depend on himself. He only who acts conscientiously toward himself, will act so toward others.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Dependence]
Don't speak evil of someone if you don't know for certain, and if you do know ask yourself, why am I telling it?
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Gossip]
Genius always gives its best at first; prudence, at last.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Genius]
Have you ever seen a pedant with a warm heart?
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Learning]
He can feel no little wants who is in pursuit of grandeur.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Want]
He is incapable of truly good action who finds not a pleasure in contemplating the good actions of others.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Pleasure]
He knows very little of mankind who expects, by any facts or reasoning, to convince a determined party man.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Politicians and Politics]
He submits to be seen through a microscope, who suffers himself to be caught in a fit of passion.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Passion]
He who has no taste for order, will be often wrong in his judgment, and seldom considerate or conscientious in his actions.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Action]
He who seldom speaks, and with one calm well-timed word can strike dumb the loquacious, is a genius or a hero.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Words]
Him, who incessantly laughs in the street, you may commonly hear grumbling in his closet.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Laughter]
I am prejudiced in favor of him who, without impudence, can ask boldly. He has faith in humanity, and faith in himself. No one who is not accustomed to giving grandly can ask nobly and with boldness.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Questions]
If you see one cold and vehement at the same time, set him down for a fanatic.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Fanatics and Fanaticism]
If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you know already.
Johann Kaspar Lavater – [Agreement]