Jean de La Bruyère

Born in Paris in 1645, Jean de La Bruyère became one of the great French moralists. He studied law, later entered the household of the Condé family as tutor, and spent many years close to court society—an experience that fed his keen eye for status, manners, and self-importance.

He is remembered above all for Les Caractères, a work of short reflections and character sketches inspired in part by the ancient writer Theophrastus. In it, he captured the habits, weaknesses, and absurdities of the people around him with wit, brevity, and a cool sense of truth.

La Bruyère was elected to the Académie française in 1693 and died in 1696. His reputation has lasted because his portraits of pride, hypocrisy, and social performance still feel fresh centuries later.