Aphorisms.
By Lavater.
Who in the same given time can produce more than many others, has vigour; who can produce more and better, has talents; who can produce what none else can, has genius.
Who, without pressing temptation, tells a lie, will, without pressing temptation, act ignobly and meanly.
Who, under pressing temptations to lie, adheres to truth, nor to the profane betrays aught of a sacred trust, is near the summit of wisdom and virtue.
All affectation is the vain and ridiculous attempt of poverty to appear rich.
Who has no friend and no enemy, is one of the vulgar; and without talents, powers, or energy.
The more honesty a man has, the less he affects the air of a saint—the affectation of sanctity is a blot on the face of piety.
Love as if you could hate and might be hated, is a maxim of detested prudence in real friendship, the bane of all tenderness, the death of all familiarity. Consider the fool who follows it as nothing inferior to him who at every bit of bread trembles at the thought of its being poisoned.
There are more heroes than saints (heroes I call rulers over the minds and destinies of men;) more saints than humane characters. He, who humanizes all that is within and around himself, adore: I know but of one such by tradition.
He who laughed at you till he got to your door, flattered you as you opened it—felt the force of your argument whilst he was with you—applauded when he rose, and, after he went away, execrated you—has the most indisputable title to an archdukedom in hell.