Joseph Joubert

We are afraid of having and showing a small mind and we are not afraid of having and showing a small heart.

For in spite of ourselves we respect those whom we see respected.

One always adds a little of one's soul to what one thinks.

Those who have judgment use it as much as in judging stones as in judging men.

All ways of expressing ourselves are good if they make us understood. Thus, if the clarity of our thoughts comes through better in a play of words, then the wordplay is good.

To descend into ourselves, we must first lift ourselves up.

What you call weakness comes from the strength of friendship.

Illusions comes from heaven and mistakes come from us.

To see the world means judging the judges.

One must be an illusionary rather than a visionary.

It is not simply a matter of distinguishing between good and evil, but also of not confusing what is laughable with what is not. To make laughable what is not is in some way to make bad what was good.

All gardeners live in beautiful places because they make them so.