Quotes by Jean de la Bruyere

We must laugh before we are happy, for fear of dying without having laughed at all.

We should laugh before being happy, for fear of dying without having laughed.

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.

There are only three events in a man’s life birth, life, and death he is not conscious of being born, he dies in pain, and he forgets to live.

If some persons died, and others did not die, death would be a terrible affliction.

Man has but three events in his life: to be born, to live, and to die. He is not conscious of his birth, he suffers at his death and he forgets to live.

We can recognize the dawn and the decline of love by the uneasiness we feel when alone together.

It’s motive alone which gives character to the actions of men.

At the beginning and at the end of love, the two lovers are embarrassed to find themselves alone.

All of our unhappiness comes from our inability to be alone.