In the introduction to his “Characters”, the author admits that the purpose of the book is an attempt to draw attention to the shortcomings of society, “made from nature”, in order to correct them.

In each of the 16 chapters, he sets out his "characters" in strict sequence, where he writes the following: "Everything has been said for a long time." It is extremely difficult to convince others of the infallibility of their tastes, most often a collection of “nonsense” is obtained.

Above all, mediocrity in "poetry, music, painting and oratory" is unbearable.

There are no great works written collectively.

Most often, people are guided by "not taste, but addiction."

Do not miss the opportunity to express a commendable opinion on the merits of the manuscript, and do not build it only on the opinions of others,

The author should calmly accept the "evil criticism", and even more so not to delete the criticized places. “The high style of a newsboy is chatter about politics.”

In vain does the writer want to grab admiring praise for his work. Fools admire. Clever approve with restraint.

High style reveals this or that truth, provided that the theme is sustained in a noble tone.

“Criticism is sometimes not so much a science as a craft requiring stamina rather than intelligence.”

“It is ungrateful to create a big name, life is coming to an end, and work has barely begun.”

External simplicity is a wonderful dress for outstanding people.

It’s good to be a man “about whom no one asks whether he is famous?”

In every act of man, character is affected.

False greatness is arrogant, but recognizes its weakness and shows itself a little.

The opinion of a man about women rarely coincides with the opinion of women.

Women should be examined, "not paying attention to their hair and shoes."

There is no spectacle more beautiful "than a beautiful face, and there is no music sweeter than the sound of your favorite voice."

Female treachery is useful in those that “cure men of jealousy.”

If two women, your friends, quarreled, "you have to choose between them, or lose both."

Women know how to love more than men, "but men are more capable of friendship."

"A man observes another's secret, but his woman."

The heart becomes inflamed suddenly, friendship takes time.

We love those to whom we do good, and we hate those whom we offend.

“There is no more excess than more than gratitude.”

"There is nothing colorless than the character of a colorless person."

A smart person is never annoying.

To be delighted with oneself and one's mind is misfortune.

The interlocutor’s talent is distinguished by “not one who speaks for himself, but one with whom others readily speak.”

"Do not reject praise - you will be seen as rude."

“Father-in-law does not like son-in-law, father-in-law loves daughter-in-law; Mother-in-law loves son-in-law, mother-in-law does not love daughter-in-law: everything in the world is balanced. ” "It’s easier and more beneficial to adapt to someone else’s disposition than to attach someone else’s disposition to your own."

"The tendency to ridicule speaks of the poverty of the mind."

Friends mutually reinforce each other's views and forgive each other petty flaws.

Do not give advice in a secular society, only harm yourself.

"Dogmatic tone is always the result of deep ignorance."

"Do not try to expose the rich fool to ridicule - all ridicule is on his side."

The wealth of other people is acquired at the cost of peace, health, honor, conscience - do not envy them.

In any case, you can get rich pretending to be honest.

The one who exalted good fortune in the game "does not want to know his peers and clings only to nobles."

It is not surprising that there are many gambling houses, it is amazing how many people who give these houses livelihoods. “It is unforgivable for a decent person to play, risking a big loss is too dangerous a boyhood.”

"The decline of the judiciary and military rank is that they do not measure their expenses with income, but with their position."

Metropolitan society is divided into circles “similar to small states: they have their own laws, customs, and jargon. But the age of these circles is short-lived - two years on the strength. ”

The vanity of the inhabitants of the capital is contrary to the rudeness of commoners.

“You have found a faithful friend if, having risen, he has not made contact with you.”

A high and difficult position is easier to occupy than to maintain. "Making promises at court is just as dangerous as not keeping them."

Insolence is a property of character, an inborn vice.

“Two paths lead to a high position: a well-trodden straight road and a roundabout trail that is much shorter,”

Do not expect sincerity, justice, help and constancy from the person who appeared to the court with the secret intention to exalt himself. “The new minister makes many friends and relatives in one night.” “Court life is a serious, cold and intense game.” And her luckiest wins.

"The slave depends only on his master, the ambitious - on all who are able to help his exaltation."

"A good wit is a bad man." From cunning to cheating is one step, it is worth adding a lie to the cunning, and you get cheating.

Nobles recognize perfection only for themselves, however, the only thing you can’t take away from them is large possessions and a long series of ancestors. “They don’t want to learn anything - not just managing the state, but also managing their home.”

A doorman, valet, footman judge themselves by the nobility and wealth of those they serve.

It’s dangerous to participate in a dubious undertaking, and it’s even more dangerous to be a nobleman. He will get out at your expense.

Courage is a special attitude of mind and heart that is transmitted from ancestors to descendants.

Do not rely on nobles, they rarely take the opportunity to do us good. "They are guided only by the dictates of feeling, succumbing to the first impression."

“It is best to be silent about the powers that be. To speak well — almost always means to flatter, to speak badly — is dangerous while they are alive, and meanly when they are dead. ”

The most reasonable thing is to come to terms with the way of government under which you were born.

The subjects of the despot have no homeland. The thought of it is supplanted by self-interest, ambition, servility.

“The minister or ambassador is a chameleon. He hides his true temper and dresses the mask that is needed at the moment. All his intentions, moral rules, political tricks serve one task - not to indulge in deception himself and deceive others. "

The monarch lacks only one thing - the joys of privacy.

The favorite is always alone, he has neither affection, nor friends.

"Everything flourishes in a country where no one makes a distinction between the interests of the state and the sovereign."

In one respect, people are constant: they are evil, vicious, indifferent to virtue.

"Stoicism is an empty mind game, a fiction." The man is really losing his temper, despairing, instilling a cry. “Dodgers tend to think that everyone else is like them; they don’t fall into deception, but they themselves do not deceive others for a long time. ”

“Stamp paper is a shame on mankind: it was invented to remind people that they made promises, and to incriminate them when they deny it.”

"Life is what people most strive to save and least cherish."

There is no flaw or bodily imperfection that children would not have noticed; if they find it, they gain the upper hand over adults and cease to reckon with them.

"People do not live too long to learn from their own mistakes."

"Bias reduces the greatest man to the level of the most limited commoner."

Health and wealth, saving a person from bitter experience, make him indifferent; people themselves, dejected by sorrows, are much more compassionate to their neighbor.

“A man of a mediocre mind seems to be cut out from one piece: he is constantly serious, he cannot joke.”

High positions make great people even greater, insignificant - even more insignificant.

"The old man in love is one of the greatest deformities in nature."

“Finding a vain person who considers himself happy is just as difficult as finding a humble person who considers himself too unhappy.”

“The mannerism of gestures, speech and behavior is often the result of idleness or indifference; a great feeling and a serious matter restore a person to his natural appearance. ”

“The great surprises us, the insignificant repels us, and the habit“ reconciles us with both. ”

“The title of comedian was considered shameful among the Romans and honorable among the Greeks. What is the situation of actors with us? We look at them like the Romans, but treat them like the Greeks. ”

“Languages ​​are just the key that opens up access to science, but contempt for them casts a shadow over it.”

"You should not judge a person by the face - it only allows you to build assumptions."

“A man whose mind and abilities are universally recognized does not seem ugly, even if he is ugly - no one notices his ugliness.” “A narcissistic man is one in whom fools see an abyss of virtues. This is a cross between a fool and an impudent person; there is something in him from one and the other. ”

"Talkativeness is one of the signs of limitedness."

The more our neighbors look like us, the more we like them.

“The flatterer is of equal low opinion both about himself and others.”

“Freedom is not idleness, but the opportunity to freely have one’s time and choose one’s occupation.” Who does not know how to use his time, the first one complains about his lack.

To a lover of rarities, it’s expensive not just solidly or beautifully, but something unusual and outlandish that he has one.

“A woman who has come into fashion looks like that nameless blue flower that grows on cornfields, muffles ears, destroys crops and takes the place of useful cereals.”

“An intelligent man wears what the tailor advises him; despising fashion is just as unreasonable as following it too much. ”

"Even the beautiful ceases to be beautiful when it is inappropriate."

“For marriage, parishioners charge more than christening, and christening is more expensive than confession; thus, a sacrament is levied on the sacraments, which, as it were, determines their relative dignity. ”

“Torture is an amazing invention that will surely destroy an innocent if he is weak in health and save the criminal if he is strong and hardy.”

“People regard the instructions made by dying in wills as if they were oracles: everyone understands and interprets them in their own way, according to their own desires and benefits.”

“People never trusted doctors, and always used their services.” Until people stop dying, doctors will be showered with ridicule and money.

Charlatans cheat those who want to be cheated.

“The Christian sermon has now turned into a spectacle,” no one ponders the meaning of the word of God, “for the sermon was primarily a fun, a game of chance, where some compete and others bet.”

“Speakers in one respect are like military men: they take a greater risk than people in other professions, but they rise faster.” How great is the advantage of a living word over written.

Enjoying health, people doubt the existence of God, as well as they see no sin in the vicinity of a special light morals; once they get sick, they drop the concubine and begin to believe in the creator.

"The inability to prove that there is no god convinces me that he is."

“If the need for something disappears, the arts, sciences, inventions, mechanics will disappear.”

Labruyere ends the book with the words: “If the reader does not approve these“ Characters ”, I will be surprised; if approved, I will still be surprised. "