Action, looks, words, steps, form the alphabet by which you may spell character.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

Conscience is the sentinel of virtue.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

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

Have you ever seen a pedant with a warm heart?
Johann Kaspar Lavater

He submits to be seen through a microscope, who suffers himself to be caught in a fit of passion.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

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

He, who cannot forgive a trespass of malice to his enemy, has never yet tasted the most sublime enjoyment of love.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

Him, who incessantly laughs in the street, you may commonly hear grumbling in his closet.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

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


If you see one cold and vehement at the same time, set him down for a fanatic.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

If you wish to appear agreeable in society, you must consent to be taught many things which you know already.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

Intuition is the clear conception of the whole at once.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

Mistrust the person who finds everything good, and the person who finds everything evil, and mistrust even more the person who is indifferent to everything.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

Neatness begets order; but from order to taste there is the same difference as from taste to genius, or from love to friendship.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

Never say you know a man until you have divided an inheritance with him.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

Say not you know another entirely till you have divided an inheritance with him.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

The great rule of moral conduct is next to God, respect time.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

The jealous are possessed by a mad devil and a dull spirit at the same time.
Johann Kaspar Lavater

The prudent see only the difficulties, the bold only the advantages, of a great enterprise; the hero sees both; diminishes the former and makes the latter preponderate, and so conquers.
Johann Kaspar Lavater