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I would fain coin wisdom, - mould it, I mean, into maxims, proverbs, sentences, that can easily be retained and transmitted. Would that I could denounce and banish from the language of men - as base money - the words by which they cheat and are cheated! By Joseph Joubert Proverbs Sentences Wisdom Mould Maxims

Truth takes the stamp of the souls it enters. It is rigorous and rough in arid souls, but tempers and softens itself in loving natures. By Joseph Joubert Truth Enters Souls Stamp Natures

Few minds are spacious; few even have an empty place in them or can offer some vacant point. Almost all have narrow capacities and are filled by some knowledge that blocks them up. What a torture to talk to filled heads, that allow nothing from the outside to enter them! A good mind, in order to enjoy itself and allow itself to enjoy others, always keeps itself larger than its own thoughts. And in order to do this, these thoughts must be given a pliant form, must be easily folded and unfolded, so that they are capable, finally, of maintaining a natural flexibility.All those short-sighted minds see clearly within their little ideas and see nothing in those of others; they are like those bad eyes that see from close range what is obscure and cannot perceive what is clear from afar. Night minds, minds of darkness. By Joseph Joubert Minds Spacious Point Empty Place

There is graciousness and a kind of urbanity in beginning with men by esteem and confidence. It proves, at least, that we have long lived in good company with others and with our selves. By Joseph Joubert Confidence Graciousness Kind Urbanity Beginning

Haughty people seem to me to have, like the dwarfs, the stature of a child and the face of a man. By Joseph Joubert Haughty Dwarfs Man People Stature

The beautiful invariably possesses a visible and a hidden beauty; and it is certain that no style is so beautiful as that which presents to the attentive reader a half-hidden meaning. By Joseph Joubert Beautiful Beauty Meaning Invariably Possesses

Let your cry be for free souls rather than for freedom. Moral liberty is the only important liberty. By Joseph Joubert Freedom Cry Free Souls Liberty

In order to be happy, think of the ills you have been spared. By Joseph Joubert Happy Spared Order Ills

Tormented by the cursed ambition always to put a whole book in a page, a whole page in a sentence, and this sentence in a word. I am speaking of myself. By Joseph Joubert Page Sentence Tormented Word Cursed

The early and the latter part of human life are the best, or, at least, the most worthy of respect; the one as the age of innocence, the other of reason. By Joseph Joubert Respect Innocence Reason Early Part

If you would live happily, do not exaggerate life's evils, nor slight her blessings. By Joseph Joubert Happily Evils Blessings Live Exaggerate

The voice is a human sound which nothing inanimate can perfectly imitate. It has an authority and an insinuating property which writing lacks. It is not merely so much air, but air modulated and impregnated with life. By Joseph Joubert Imitate Voice Human Sound Inanimate

One should choose for a wife only such a woman as he would choose for a friend, were she a man. By Joseph Joubert Choose Friend Man Wife Woman

Only choose in marriage a man whom you would choose as a friend if he were a woman. By Joseph Joubert Choose Woman Marriage Man Friend

A part of kindness consists in loving people more than they deserve. By Joseph Joubert Deserve Part Kindness Consists Loving

Some superior minds are unrecognized because there is no standard by which to weigh them. By Joseph Joubert Superior Minds Unrecognized Standard Weigh

Old age takes from the man of intellect no qualities save those that are useless to wisdom. By Joseph Joubert Wisdom Age Man Intellect Qualities

If you are poor, distinguish yourself by your virtues; if rich, by your good deeds. By Joseph Joubert Poor Distinguish Virtues Rich Deeds

A false mind is false in everything, just as a cross eye always looks askant. But one may err once, nay, a hundred times, without being double-minded. There can never be mental duplicity where there is sincerity. By Joseph Joubert False Askant Mind Cross Eye

The soul that is the abode of chastity acquires an energy which enables her to surmount with ease the obstacles that lie along the path of duty. By Joseph Joubert Duty Soul Abode Chastity Acquires

God multiplies intelligence, which communicates itself, like fire, ad infinitum. Light a thousand torches at one touch, the flame remains always the same. By Joseph Joubert God Intelligence Fire Infinitum Multiplies

Reason is a bee, and exists only on what it makes; his usefulness takes the place of beauty. By Joseph Joubert Reason Bee Makes Beauty Exists

A few words worthy to be remembered suffice to give an idea of a great mind. There are single thoughts that contain the essence of a whole volume, single sentences that have the beauties of a large work, a simplicity so finished and so perfect that it equals in merit and in excellence a large and glorious composition. By Joseph Joubert Mind Words Worthy Remembered Suffice

Young authors give their brains much exercise and little food. By Joseph Joubert Young Food Authors Give Brains

Those for whom the world is not enough: saints, conquerors, poets, and all lovers of books. By Joseph Joubert Saints Conquerors Poets Books World

Imitate time; it destroys everything slowly; it undermines, it wears away, it detaches, it does not wrench. By Joseph Joubert Imitate Time Slowly Undermines Detaches

A man who shows no defect is a fool or a hypocrite, whom we should mistrust. There are defects so bound to fine qualities that they announce them,defects which it is well not to correct. By Joseph Joubert Hypocrite Mistrust Man Shows Fool

What is true by lamplight is not always true by sunlight. By Joseph Joubert True Sunlight Lamplight

The evening of a well spent youth brings it's lamps with it. By Joseph Joubert Evening Spent Youth Brings Lamps

If fortune wishes to make a man estimable, she gives him virtues; if she wishes to make him esteemed, she gives him success. By Joseph Joubert Wishes Make Estimable Virtues Esteemed

All gardeners live in beautiful places because they make them so. By Joseph Joubert Gardeners Live Beautiful Places Make

Science confounds everything; it gives to the flowers an animal appetite, and takes away from even the plants their chastity. By Joseph Joubert Science Appetite Chastity Confounds Flowers

Through memory we travel against time, through forgetfulness we follow its course. By Joseph Joubert Time Memory Travel Forgetfulness Follow

Monuments are the grappling-irons that bind one generation to another ... By Joseph Joubert Monuments Grapplingirons Bind Generation

In really good acting we should be able to believe that what we hear and see is of our own imagining; it should seem to be to us as a charming dream. By Joseph Joubert Imagining Dream Good Acting Hear

When a nation gives birth to a man who is able to produce a great thought, another is born who is able to understand and admire it. By Joseph Joubert Thought Nation Birth Man Produce

It is easy to understand God as long as you don't try to explain him. By Joseph Joubert God Easy Understand Long Explain

Avoid singularity. There may often be less vanity in following the new modes than in adhering to the old ones. It is true that the foolish invent them, but the wise may conform to, instead of contradicting, them. By Joseph Joubert Avoid Singularity Vanity Modes Adhering

Professional critics are incapable of distinguishing and appreciating either diamonds in the rough or gold in bars. They are traders, and in literature know only the coins that are current. Their critical lab has scales and weights, but neither crucible or touchstone. By Joseph Joubert Professional Bars Critics Incapable Distinguishing

Maxims are to the intellect what laws are to actions; they do not enlighten, but they guide and direct, and, although themselves blind, are protective. By Joseph Joubert Maxims Actions Enlighten Direct Blind

The Bible is to religion what the Iliad is to poetry By Joseph Joubert Bible Iliad Poetry Religion

Xenophon wrote with a swan's quill, Plato with a pen of gold, and Thucydides with a brazen stylus. By Joseph Joubert Plato Thucydides Xenophon Quill Gold

Let us be men with men, and always children before God; for in His eyes we are but children. Old age itself, in presence of eternity, is but the first moment of a morning. By Joseph Joubert God Men Children Eyes Eternity

Fear loves the idea of danger. By Joseph Joubert Fear Danger Loves Idea

To teach is to learn twice. About all some parents accomplish in life is to send a child to Harvard. The purpose of a liberal education is to make one's mind a pleasant place to spend one's leisure. By Joseph Joubert Teach Learn Harvard Parents Accomplish

All disputation makes the mind deaf; and when people are deaf, I am dumb. By Joseph Joubert Deaf Dumb Disputation Makes Mind

A maxim is the exact and noble expression of an important and indisputable truth. Good maxims are the germs of all excellence; when firmly fixed on the memory, they nourish the will. By Joseph Joubert Truth Exact Noble Expression Important

Grace imitates modesty, as politeness imitates kindness. By Joseph Joubert Grace Modesty Kindness Imitates Politeness

The last word should be the last word. It is like a finishing touch given to color; there is nothing more to add. But what precaution is needed in order not to put the last word first. By Joseph Joubert Word Color Add Finishing Touch

The lively phraseology of Montesquieu was the result of long meditation. His words, as light as wings, bear on them grave reflections. By Joseph Joubert Montesquieu Meditation Lively Phraseology Result

Every modulated sound is not a song, and every voice that executes a beautiful air does not sing. Singing should enchant. But to produce this effect there must be a quality of soul and voice which is by no means common even with great singers. By Joseph Joubert Song Sing Modulated Sound Executes

Fully to understand a grand and beautiful thought requires, perhaps, as much time as to conceive it. By Joseph Joubert Fully Requires Understand Grand Beautiful

How many weak shoulders have craved heavy burdens! By Joseph Joubert Burdens Weak Shoulders Craved Heavy

Questions show the mind's range, and answers its subtlety. By Joseph Joubert Questions Range Subtlety Show Mind

Life is a country that the old have seen, and lived in. Those who have to travel through it can only learn from them. By Joseph Joubert Life Country Lived Travel Learn

A temperate style is alone classical. By Joseph Joubert Classical Temperate Style

Let us have justice, and then we shall have enough liberty! By Joseph Joubert Justice Liberty

One who has imagination without learning has wings without feet. Joseph Joubert may 16 2002 By Joseph Joubert Feet Imagination Learning Wings Joubert

We find little in a book but what we put there. But in great books, the mind finds room to put many things. By Joseph Joubert Put Things Find Book Books

We are all of us more or less echoes, repeating involuntarily the virtues, the defects, the movements, and the characters of those among whom we live. By Joseph Joubert Echoes Repeating Virtues Defects Movements

The simple-hearted and sincere never do more than half deceive themselves. By Joseph Joubert Simplehearted Sincere Half Deceive

Genuinely good remarks surprise their author as well as his audience ... By Joseph Joubert Genuinely Audience Good Remarks Surprise

Lenity is a part of justice; but she must not speak too loud for fear of waking justice. By Joseph Joubert Justice Lenity Part Speak Loud

Thoughts there are, that need no embodying, no form, no expression. It is enough to hint at them vaguely; a word, and they are heard and seen. By Joseph Joubert Thoughts Embodying Form Expression Vaguely

The God of metaphysics is but an idea. But the God of religion, the Maker of heaven and earth, the sovereign Judge of actions and thoughts, is a power. By Joseph Joubert God Idea Metaphysics Maker Judge

There is always some frivolity in excellent minds; they have wings to rise, but also stray. By Joseph Joubert Minds Rise Stray Frivolity Excellent

Religion must be loved as a kind of country and nursing-mother. It was religion that nourished our virtues, that showed us heaven, that taught us to walk in the path of duty. By Joseph Joubert Nursingmother Religion Loved Kind Country

He who cannot see the beautiful side is a bad painter, a bad friend, a bad lover; he cannot lift his mind and his heart so high as goodness. By Joseph Joubert Bad Painter Friend Lover Goodness

Antiquity! I like its ruins better than its reconstructions. By Joseph Joubert Antiquity Reconstructions Ruins

Truth consists of having the same idea about something that God has. By Joseph Joubert God Truth Consists Idea

He who has not the weakness of friendship has not the strength. By Joseph Joubert Strength Weakness Friendship

Of the two, I prefer those who render vice lovable to those who degrade virtue. By Joseph Joubert Virtue Prefer Render Vice Lovable

You want to talk to someone; first open your ears. By Joseph Joubert Ears Talk Open

We shall always keep a spare corner in our heads to give passing hospitality to our friends' opinion. By Joseph Joubert Opinion Spare Corner Heads Give

The talkative man speaks from his mouth, the eloquent man speaks from his heart. By Joseph Joubert Speaks Man Mouth Heart Talkative

All good verses are like impromptus made at leisure. By Joseph Joubert Leisure Good Verses Impromptus Made

Slander is the solace of malignity. By Joseph Joubert Slander Malignity Solace

Fate and necessity are unconquerable. By Joseph Joubert Fate Unconquerable Necessity

Fancy, an animal faculty, is very different from imagination, which is intellectual. The former is passive; but the latter is active and creative. Children, the weak minded, and the timid are full of fancy. Men and women of intellect, of great intellect, are alone possessed of great imagination. By Joseph Joubert Faculty Intellectual Fancy Imagination Animal

Words are like eyeglasses they blur everything that they do not make clear. By Joseph Joubert Words Clear Eyeglasses Blur Make

When you go in search of honey, you must expect to be stung by bees. By Joseph Joubert Honey Bees Search Expect Stung

I quit Paris unwillingly, because I must part from my friends; and I quit the country unwillingly, because I must part from myself. By Joseph Joubert Unwillingly Part Quit Paris Friends

Words become luminous when the poet's finger has passed over them its phosphorescence. By Joseph Joubert Words Phosphorescence Luminous Poet Finger

We love repose of mind so well, that we are arrested by anything which has even the appearance of truth; and so we fall asleep on clouds. By Joseph Joubert Truth Clouds Love Repose Mind

The passions should be purged; all may become innocent if they are well directed and moderated. Even hatred maybe a commendable feeling when it is caused by a lively love of good. Whatever makes the passions pure, makes them stronger, more durable, and more enjoyable. By Joseph Joubert Purged Moderated Passions Innocent Directed

Religion is neither a theology nor a theosophy; it is more than that, it is a discipline, a law, a yoke, an indissoluble engagement. By Joseph Joubert Religion Theosophy Discipline Law Yoke

Grief - Happiness is to feel that one's soul is good; there is no other, in truth, and this kind of happiness may exist even in sorrow, so that there are griefs perfable to every joy, and such as would be preferred by all those who have felt them. By Joseph Joubert Happiness Good Truth Sorrow Joy

Genius is the ability to see things invisible, to manipulate things intangible, to paint things that have no features. By Joseph Joubert Things Genius Invisible Intangible Features

Love and fear. Everything the father of a family says must inspire one or the other. By Joseph Joubert Love Fear Father Family Inspire

We should always keep a corner of our heads open and free, that we may make room for the opinions of our friends. Let us have heart and head hospitality. By Joseph Joubert Free Friends Corner Open Make

We do not do well except when we know where the best is and when we are assured that we have touched it and hold its power within us. By Joseph Joubert Assured Touched Hold Power

Happy is the man who can do only one thing; in doing it, he fulfills his destiny. By Joseph Joubert Happy Thing Destiny Man Fulfills

Forms of government become established of themselves. They shape themselves, they are not created. We may give them strength and consistency, but we cannot call them into being. Let us rest assured that the form of government can never be a matter of choice: it is almost always a matter of necessity. By Joseph Joubert Established Government Matter Created Forms

In the commerce of language use only coin of gold and silver. By Joseph Joubert Silver Commerce Language Coin Gold

In the interchange of thought use no coin but gold and silver. By Joseph Joubert Silver Interchange Thought Coin Gold

The true character of epistolary style is playfulness and urbanity. By Joseph Joubert Urbanity True Character Epistolary Style

To reason, to argue. It is to walk with crutches in search of the truth. We come to it with a leap. By Joseph Joubert Reason Argue Truth Walk Crutches

Superstition is the only religion of which base souls are capable of. By Joseph Joubert Superstition Religion Base Souls Capable

There are single thoughts that contain the essence of a whole volume, single sentences that have the beauties of a large work. By Joseph Joubert Volume Work Single Thoughts Essence

Close your eyes and you will see. By Joseph Joubert Close Eyes

Close your eyes and see. By Joseph Joubert Close Eyes

We should make ourselves loved, for men are only just towards those whom they love. By Joseph Joubert Loved Love Make Men

The best remedy for a short temper is a long walk. By Joseph Joubert Walk Remedy Short Temper Long

TIME and truth are friends, though there are many moments hostile to truth. By Joseph Joubert Time Friends Truth Moments Hostile

Be saving, but not at the cost of all liberality. Have the soul of a king and the hand of a wise economist. By Joseph Joubert Saving Liberality Cost Economist Soul

In clothes clean and fresh there is a kind of youth with which age should surround itself. By Joseph Joubert Clothes Clean Fresh Kind Youth

One man finds in religion his literature and his science, another finds in it his joy and his duty. By Joseph Joubert Finds Science Duty Man Religion

Music has seven letters, writing has twenty-six notes By Joseph Joubert Music Letters Writing Notes Twentysix

Good maxims are the germs of all excellence. By Joseph Joubert Good Excellence Maxims Germs

No one is mediocre who has good sense and good sentiments. By Joseph Joubert Sentiments Good Mediocre Sense

Remorse is the punishment of crime; repentance, its expiation. The former appertains to a tormented conscience; the latter to a soul changed for the better. By Joseph Joubert Repentance Remorse Crime Expiation Punishment

Strength is not energy; some authors have more muscles than talent. By Joseph Joubert Strength Energy Talent Authors Muscles

Today there are no more irreconcilable enmities, because there are no more disinterested emotions: that's a good thing born from a bad thing. By Joseph Joubert Today Enmities Emotions Thing Irreconcilable

Speech is but the incorporation of thought. By Joseph Joubert Speech Thought Incorporation

Figure, movement. Everything happens, says Pascal, from figure and movement. To say in this case that everything happens from movement, for every figure is no more than the lingering trace of a movement that has already ceased. Thus the letters that I am forming now, for example, are only the pen's lingering trace of the movement of my hand. By Joseph Joubert Movement Figure Pascal Trace Lingering

National literature begins with fables and ends with novels. By Joseph Joubert National Literature Begins Fables Ends

In temperance there is ever cleanliness and elegance. By Joseph Joubert Elegance Temperance Cleanliness

Poetry is to be found nowhere unless we carry it within us. By Joseph Joubert Poetry Found Carry

A thought is a thing as real as a cannonball. By Joseph Joubert Cannonball Thought Thing Real

The Bible remained for me a book of books, still divine - but divine in the sense that all great books are divine which teach men how to live righteously. By Joseph Joubert Bible Divine Righteously Books Remained

A fluent writer always seems more talented than he is. To write well, one needs a natural felicity and an acquired difficulty. By Joseph Joubert Fluent Writer Talented Difficulty Write

We know God easily, if we do not constrain ourselves to define him. By Joseph Joubert God Easily Constrain Define

There are some men who are witty when they are in a bad humor, and others only when they are sad. By Joseph Joubert Humor Sad Men Witty Bad

Man is born with the faculty of speech. Who gives it to him? He who gives the bird its song. By Joseph Joubert Man Speech Born Faculty Song

Necessity may render a doubtful act innocent, but it cannot make it praiseworthy By Joseph Joubert Necessity Innocent Praiseworthy Render Doubtful

Proverbs may be said to be the abridgment of wisdom. By Joseph Joubert Proverbs Wisdom Abridgment

When my friends lack an eye, I look at them in profile. By Joseph Joubert Eye Profile Friends Lack

Genuine witticisms surprise those who say them as much as those who listen to them; they arise in us in spite of us, or, at least, without our participation,like everything inspired. By Joseph Joubert Genuine Inspired Witticisms Surprise Listen

The art of saying well what one thinks is different from the faculty of thinking. The latter may be very deep and lofty and far- reaching, while the former is altogether wanting. By Joseph Joubert Thinking Art Faculty Reaching Wanting

Our life is woven wind. By Joseph Joubert Wind Life Woven

The ordinary true, or purely real, cannot be the object of the arts. Illusion on a ground of truth,that is the secret of the fine arts. By Joseph Joubert Arts True Real Ordinary Purely

It is always our inabilities that vex us. By Joseph Joubert Inabilities Vex

I do not call reason that brutal reason which crushes with its weight what is holy and sacred, that malignant reason which delights in the errors it succeeds in discovering, that unfeeling and scornful reason which insults credulity. By Joseph Joubert Reason Sacred Discovering Credulity Call

It would be next to impossible to discover a handsome woman who was not also a vain woman. By Joseph Joubert Woman Impossible Discover Handsome Vain

It is better to debate a question without settling it than to settle a question without debating it. By Joseph Joubert Question Debate Settling Settle Debating

You will find poetry nowhere unless you bring some of it with you. By Joseph Joubert Find Poetry Bring

When we love, it is the heart that judges. By Joseph Joubert Love Judges Heart

The ways suited to confidence are familiar to me, but not those that are suited to familiarity. By Joseph Joubert Suited Familiarity Confidence Familiar

We measure minds by their stature; it would be better to esteem them by their beauty. By Joseph Joubert Stature Beauty Measure Minds Esteem

Common sense suits itself to the ways of the world. Wisdom tries to confirm to the ways of heaven. By Joseph Joubert Common World Sense Suits Wisdom

Everything that is exact is short. By Joseph Joubert Short Exact

Genius begins beautiful works, but only labor finishes them. By Joseph Joubert Genius Works Begins Beautiful Labor

All luxury corrupts either the morals or the taste. By Joseph Joubert Taste Luxury Corrupts Morals

The breath of the mind is attention 128 By Joseph Joubert Attention Breath Mind

Genuine bon mots surprise those from whose lips they fall, no less than they do those who listen to them. By Joseph Joubert Genuine Fall Bon Mots Surprise

To be an agreeable guest one need only enjoy oneself. By Joseph Joubert Oneself Agreeable Guest Enjoy

All are born to observe order, but few are born to establish it. By Joseph Joubert Born Order Observe Establish

The soul paints itself in our machines. By Joseph Joubert Machines Soul Paints

Whence? wither? why? how? - these questions cover all philosophy. By Joseph Joubert Wither Philosophy Questions Cover

Never cut what you can untie By Joseph Joubert Untie Cut

The sound of the drum drives out thought; for that very reason it is the most military of instruments. By Joseph Joubert Thought Instruments Sound Drum Drives

There are those to whom one must advise madness. By Joseph Joubert Madness Advise

Illusion and wisdom combined are the charm of life and art. By Joseph Joubert Illusion Art Wisdom Combined Charm

Drawing is speaking to the eye; talking is painting to the ear. By Joseph Joubert Drawing Eye Talking Ear Speaking

Children must be rendered reasonable, but not reasoners. The first thing to teach them is that it is reasonable for them to obey, and unreasonable for them to dispute. By Joseph Joubert Children Reasoners Reasonable Rendered Obey

What can you possibly add to a mind that's full, especially one that's full of itself. By Joseph Joubert Full Possibly Add Mind

Every legitimate authority should respect its extent and its limits. By Joseph Joubert Limits Legitimate Authority Respect Extent

Before you use a fancy word, make room for it. By Joseph Joubert Word Make Fancy Room

There are people who are virtuous only in a piece-meal way; virtue is a fabric from which they never make themselves a whole garment. By Joseph Joubert Virtue Garment People Virtuous Piecemeal

It is not my words that I polish, but my ideas. 102 By Joseph Joubert Polish Ideas Words

Misery is almost always the result of thinking. By Joseph Joubert Misery Thinking Result

The mind is the atmosphere of the soul. By Joseph Joubert Soul Mind Atmosphere

Men have torn up the roads which led to Heaven, and which all the world followed; now we have to make our own ladders. By Joseph Joubert Heaven Men Ladders Torn Roads

There is an admiration which is the daughter of knowledge. By Joseph Joubert Knowledge Admiration Daughter

Education should be gentle and stern, not cold and lax. By Joseph Joubert Education Stern Lax Gentle Cold

The paper is patient, but the reader is not. By Joseph Joubert Patient Paper Reader

Innocence is always unsuspicious. By Joseph Joubert Innocence Unsuspicious

There are some heads which have no windows, and the day can never strike from above; nothing enters from heavenard. By Joseph Joubert Windows Heavenard Heads Day Strike

The passions of the young are vices in the old. By Joseph Joubert Passions Young Vices

Religion is fire which example keeps alive, and which goes out if not communicated. By Joseph Joubert Religion Alive Communicated Fire

Children always want to look behind mirrors. By Joseph Joubert Children Mirrors

We disjoint the mind like the body. By Joseph Joubert Body Disjoint Mind

Are you listening to the ones who keep quiet? By Joseph Joubert Quiet Listening

Credulity forges more miracles than trickery could invent. By Joseph Joubert Credulity Invent Forges Miracles Trickery

Which is more misshapen,religion without virtue, or virtue without religion? By Joseph Joubert Religion Virtue Misshapenreligion

Our ideals, like pictures, are made from lights and shadows. By Joseph Joubert Ideals Pictures Shadows Made Lights

The aim of an argument or discussion should not be victory, but progress. By Joseph Joubert Victory Progress Aim Argument Discussion

Good impulses are naught, unless they become good actions. By Joseph Joubert Naught Actions Good Impulses

To see the world is to judge the judges. By Joseph Joubert World Judge Judges

Genius begins great works; labor alone finishes them. By Joseph Joubert Genius Works Labor Begins Great

History needs distance, perspective. Facts and events which are too well attested cease, in some sort, to be malleable. By Joseph Joubert Perspective History Distance Facts Cease

Old age was naturally more honored in times when people could not know much more than what they had seen. By Joseph Joubert Age Naturally Honored Times People

Attention is like a narrow mouthed vessel; pour into it what you have to say cautiously, and, as it were, drop by drop. By Joseph Joubert Attention Vessel Pour Cautiously Drop

What a man knows only through feeling can be explained only through enthusiasm. By Joseph Joubert Enthusiasm Man Feeling Explained

Contempt for private wrongs was one of the features of ancient morals. By Joseph Joubert Contempt Morals Private Wrongs Features

Mediocrity is excellent to the eyes of mediocre people. By Joseph Joubert Mediocrity People Excellent Eyes Mediocre

We must respect the past, and mistrust the present, if we wish to provide for the safety of the future. By Joseph Joubert Past Present Future Respect Mistrust

How many books there are whose reputation is made that would not obtain it were it now to make? By Joseph Joubert Make Books Reputation Made Obtain

It is an aspect of all happiness to suppose that we deserve it. By Joseph Joubert Aspect Happiness Suppose Deserve

Those readiest to criticise are often least able to appreciate. By Joseph Joubert Readiest Criticise

Think that day lost whose descending sun, views from thy hand no noble action done. By Joseph Joubert Sun Views Day Lost Descending

The essence of life consists in thinking, and being conscious of one's soul. By Joseph Joubert Thinking Soul Essence Life Consists

The essential thing is not that there be many truths in a work, but that no truth be abused. By Joseph Joubert Work Abused Essential Thing Truths

The direction of the mind is more important than its progress. By Joseph Joubert Progress Direction Mind Important

Thus, if the clarity of our thoughts comes through better in a play of words, then the wordplay is good. One must know how to enter the ideas of others and how to leave them. By Joseph Joubert Words Good Clarity Thoughts Play

To the liberal ideas of the age must be opposed the moral ideas of all ages. By Joseph Joubert Ideas Liberal Opposed Moral Age

We always believe God is like ourselves, the indulgent think him indulgent and the stern, terrible. By Joseph Joubert Terrible God Stern Indulgent

God has commanded Time to console the unhappy By Joseph Joubert Time God Unhappy Commanded Console

A work is perfectly finished only when nothing can be added to it and nothing taken away. By Joseph Joubert Work Perfectly Finished Added

Imagination is the eye of the soul By Joseph Joubert Imagination Soul Eye

Logic is to grammar what the sense of words is to their sound. By Joseph Joubert Logic Sound Grammar Sense Words

Be charitable and indulge to everyone, but thyself. By Joseph Joubert Thyself Charitable Indulge

Justice is the truth in action. By Joseph Joubert Justice Action Truth

Heaven is for those who think of it. By Joseph Joubert Heaven

Living requires but little life; doing requires much. By Joseph Joubert Living Life Requires

The mind conceives with pain, but it brings forth with delight. By Joseph Joubert Pain Delight Mind Conceives Brings

Ideas never lack for words. It is words that lack ideas. By Joseph Joubert Ideas Lack Words

In these times gain is not only a matter of greed, but of ambition. By Joseph Joubert Greed Ambition Times Gain Matter

Nothing which does not transport is poetry. The lyre is a winged instrument. By Joseph Joubert Poetry Transport Instrument Lyre Winged

Tenderness is the repose of passion. By Joseph Joubert Tenderness Passion Repose

Ask the young. They know everything. By Joseph Joubert Young

Think of the ills from which you are exempt. By Joseph Joubert Exempt Ills

Work like you don't need the money. By Joseph Joubert Work Money

The supreme sway of chastity over the senses makes her queenly. By Joseph Joubert Queenly Supreme Sway Chastity Senses

One day, a daughter of Aristotle, Pythias by name, was asked what color pleased her most. She replied, The color with which modesty suffuses the face of simple, inoffensive men. By Joseph Joubert Aristotle Pythias Day Color Daughter

Space is to place as eternity is to time. By Joseph Joubert Space Time Place Eternity

There was a time when the world acted on books; now books act on the world. By Joseph Joubert World Books Time Acted Act

Taste is the literary conscience of the soul. By Joseph Joubert Taste Soul Literary Conscience

Tenderness is the rest of passion. By Joseph Joubert Tenderness Passion Rest

Know that morality is a curb, not a spur. By Joseph Joubert Curb Spur Morality

Order is to arrangement what the soul is to the body, and what mind is to matter. By Joseph Joubert Order Body Matter Arrangement Soul

Strength is natural, but grace is the growth of habit. This charming quality requires practice if it is to become lasting. By Joseph Joubert Strength Natural Habit Grace Growth

When one has too great a dread of what is impending, one feels some relief when the trouble has come. By Joseph Joubert Impending Great Dread Feels Relief

Space is the stature of God. By Joseph Joubert God Space Stature

What can one possibly introduce into a mind that is already full, and full of itself? By Joseph Joubert Full Possibly Introduce Mind

The idea of the nest in the bird's mind, where does it come from? By Joseph Joubert Mind Idea Nest Bird

Of what delights are we deprived by our excesses! By Joseph Joubert Excesses Delights Deprived

When credulity comes from the heart it does no harm to the intellect. By Joseph Joubert Intellect Credulity Heart Harm

Men must be either the slaves of duty, or the slaves of force. By Joseph Joubert Slaves Men Duty Force

The punishment of those who have loved women too much is to love them always. By Joseph Joubert Punishment Loved Women Love

When the painter wishes to represent an event, he cannot place before us too great a number of personages; but he cannot employ too few when he wishes to portray an emotion. By Joseph Joubert Wishes Event Personages Emotion Painter

We live in an age in which superfluous ideas abound and essential ideas are lacking. By Joseph Joubert Lacking Ideas Live Age Superfluous

The worst thing about new books is that they keep us from reading the old ones. By Joseph Joubert Worst Thing Books Reading

How many people become abstract as a way of appearing profound. By Joseph Joubert Profound People Abstract Appearing

Ornaments were invented by modesty. By Joseph Joubert Ornaments Modesty Invented

Children need models rather than critics. By Joseph Joubert Children Critics Models

Chance generally favors the prudent. By Joseph Joubert Chance Prudent Generally Favors

Moderation consists in being moved as angels are moved. By Joseph Joubert Moderation Moved Consists Angels

You arrive at truth through poetry; I arrive at poetry through truth. By Joseph Joubert Arrive Truth Poetry

If authorities were well organized, there would not be an Unknown Warrior. By Joseph Joubert Warrior Unknown Organized Authorities

How many people make themselves abstract to appear profound. The most useful part of abstract terms are the shadows they create to hide a vacuum. By Joseph Joubert Profound Abstract People Make Vacuum

The joy which is caused by truth and noble thoughts shows itself in the words by which they are expressed. By Joseph Joubert Expressed Joy Caused Truth Noble

Virtue is the health of the soul. It gives a flavor to the smallest leaves of life. By Joseph Joubert Virtue Soul Health Life Flavor

Beautiful works do not intoxicate, but they enchant. By Joseph Joubert Beautiful Intoxicate Enchant Works

Politeness is the flower of humanity. By Joseph Joubert Politeness Humanity Flower

It is easier to be mistaken about the true than the beautiful. By Joseph Joubert Beautiful Easier Mistaken True

Only just the right quantum of wit should be put into a book; in conversation a little excess is allowable. By Joseph Joubert Book Allowable Quantum Wit Put

Words, like glasses, obscure everything they do not make clear. Before using a fine word, make a place for it. By Joseph Joubert Glasses Obscure Clear Make Words

Our worries always come from our weaknesses. By Joseph Joubert Weaknesses Worries

You have to be like the pebble in the stream, keeping the grain and rolling along without being dissolved or dissolving anything else. By Joseph Joubert Stream Keeping Pebble Grain Rolling

There is in the soul a taste for the good, just as there is in the body an appetite for enjoyment. By Joseph Joubert Good Enjoyment Soul Taste Body

I love prudence very little, if it is not moral. By Joseph Joubert Moral Love Prudence

The dregs may stir themselves as they please; they fall back to the bottom by their own coarseness. By Joseph Joubert Coarseness Dregs Stir Fall Back

Eyes raised toward heaven are always beautiful, whatever they be. By Joseph Joubert Eyes Beautiful Raised Heaven

In bringing up a child, think of its old age. By Joseph Joubert Child Age Bringing

Pleasures are always children, pains always have wrinkles. By Joseph Joubert Pleasures Children Pains Wrinkles

Without the spiritual world the material world is a disheartening enigma. By Joseph Joubert Enigma World Spiritual Material Disheartening

Words, like glass, obscure when they do not aid vision. By Joseph Joubert Words Glass Obscure Vision Aid

Criticism even should not be without its charms. When quite devoid of all amenities, it is no longer literary. By Joseph Joubert Criticism Charms Amenities Literary Devoid

When you give, give with joy and smiling. By Joseph Joubert Smiling Give Joy

Sexes. One has the look of a wound, the other of something skinned. By Joseph Joubert Sexes Wound Skinned

God is the place where I do not remember the rest. By Joseph Joubert God Rest Place Remember

Virtue by calculation is the virtue of vice. By Joseph Joubert Vice Virtue Calculation

Mediocrity is excellence in the eyes of the mediocre. By Joseph Joubert Mediocrity Mediocre Excellence Eyes

He who has imagination without learning has wings but no feet. By Joseph Joubert Feet Imagination Learning Wings

One can with dignity be wife and widow but once. By Joseph Joubert Dignity Wife Widow

To teach is to learn twice. By Joseph Joubert Teach Learn

Old age deprives the intelligent man only of qualities useless to wisdom. By Joseph Joubert Wisdom Age Deprives Intelligent Man

Liquid, flowing words are the choicest and the best, if language is regarded as music. But when it is considered as a picture, then there are rough words which are very telling, they make their mark. By Joseph Joubert Liquid Flowing Music Words Choicest

Those who never retract their opinions love themselves more than they love truth. By Joseph Joubert Truth Love Retract Opinions

We use up in the passions the stuff that was given us for happiness. By Joseph Joubert Happiness Passions Stuff

It may be said that it is with our thoughts as with our flowers. Those whose expression is simple carry their seed with them; those that are double by their richness and pomp charm the mind, but produce nothing. By Joseph Joubert Flowers Thoughts Mind Expression Simple

Success serves men as a pedestal. It makes them seem greater when not measured by reflection. By Joseph Joubert Success Pedestal Serves Men Reflection

The evening of life brings with it its lamps. By Joseph Joubert Lamps Evening Life Brings

Religion is the only metaphysic that the multitude can understand and adopt. By Joseph Joubert Religion Adopt Metaphysic Multitude Understand

Who ever has no fixed opinions has no constant feelings. By Joseph Joubert Feelings Fixed Opinions Constant

Taste has never been corrupted by simplicity. By Joseph Joubert Taste Simplicity Corrupted

We may convince others by our arguements, but we can only persuade them by their own By Joseph Joubert Arguements Convince Persuade

I resemble the poplar,that tree which, even when old, still looks young. By Joseph Joubert Young Resemble Poplarthat Tree

Everything has its poetry. 94 By Joseph Joubert Poetry

Grace is in garments, in movements, in manners; beauty in the nude, and in forms. This is true of bodies; but when we speak of feelings, beauty is in their spirituality, and grace in their moderation. By Joseph Joubert Beauty Garments Movements Manners Nude

Luckily, I never feel at one time more than half my pains. By Joseph Joubert Luckily Pains Feel Time Half

We should do good whenever we can and do kindness at all times, for at all times we can. By Joseph Joubert Times Good Kindness

Justice is the right of the weakest. By Joseph Joubert Justice Weakest

Minds which never rest are subject to many digressions. By Joseph Joubert Minds Digressions Rest Subject