“Genius begins beautiful works, but only labor finishes them.”

— Joseph Joubert, The Notebooks of Joseph Joubert, 1883

About Joseph Joubert

1754 – 1824

French moralist and essayist, author of the "Pensées".

“Old age deprives the intelligent man only of qualities useless to wisdom.”

“We comprehend the earth only when we have known heaven.”

“Some find activity only in repose, and others repose only in movement.”

“I have nothing to offer but blood, toil, tears, and sweat.”

“Give us the tools and we will finish the job.”

“The fact is the sweetest dream that labor knows.”

“The poet shall not spend his time in unneeded work.”

“Make every effort to change things you do not like.”

“We hired truly great people and gave them the room to do great work.”