August 16

Born in Paris in 1645, he studied at the Jesuit collège and became secretary to the duc de Bouillon. La Bruyère published Les Caractères in 1688, a collection of character sketches critiquing the manners of his contemporaries. His witty and incisive observations made him one of the foremost moralists of the 17th century. He combined philosophical reflection with literary style, influencing both Enlightenment thought and French literature. Despite criticism from some court figures, his work enjoyed immediate success and multiple editions. La Bruyère's legacy endures in the study of character and ethics in Western philosophy.