Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux Quotes

A burlesque word is often a powerful sermon.

Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with ease. [Fr., Ce que l'on concoit bien s'enonce clairement, Et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisement.]

Of all the animals which fly in the air, walk on the land, or swim in the sea, from Paris to Peru, from Japan to Rome, the most foolish animal in my opinion is man.

However big the fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him.

Hasten slowly, and without losing heart, put your work twenty times upon the anvil. [Fr., Hatez-vous lentement; et, sans perdre courage, Vingt fois sur le metier remettez votre ouvrage.]

Whate'er is well conceived is clearly said, And the words to say it flow with ease.

In spite of every sage whom Greece can show, Unerring wisdom never dwelt below; Folly in all of every age we see, The only difference lies in the degree.

All men are fools, and with every effort they differ only in the degree.

The wisest man is generally he who thinks himself the least so.

Whatever we well understand we express clearly, and words flow with ease.

Often the fear on one evil leads us into a worse.

It is the sin which we have not committed which seems the most monstrous.

Time flies and draws us with it. The moment in which I am speaking is already far from me.

When we envy another, we make their virtue our vice.

At times truth may not seem probable.

Gold gives an appearance of beauty even to ugliness: But with poverty everything becomes frightful.

Attach yourself to those who advise you rather than praise you.

Nothing is really beautiful but truth, and truth alone is lovely.

Of every four words I write, I strike out three.

Honor is like an island, rugged and without a beach; once we have left it, we can never return.

Bring your work back to the workshop twenty times. Polish it continuously, and polish it again.

The world is full of fools; and he who would not wish to see one, must not only shut himself up alone, but must also break his looking-glass.

Some excel in rhyme who reason foolishly.

What is conceived well is expressed clearly.

Virtue alone is the unerring sign of a noble soul.

Something of calumny always sticks.

A warmed-up dinner was never worth much.

A fop sometimes gives important advice.

Truth has not such an urgent air.

With poverty everything becomes frightful.

If your descent is from heroic sires, Show in your life a remnant of their fires.

The dreadful burden of having nothing to do.

It is in vain a daring author thinks of attaining to the heights of Parnassus if he does not feel the secret influence of heaven and if his natal star has not formed him to be a poet.

The wisest man is he who does not fancy that he is so at all.

Of all the creatures that creep, swim, or fly, Peopling the earth, the waters, and the sky, From Rome to Iceland, Paris to Japan, I really think the greatest fool is man.

Greatest fools are the most often satisfied.

Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways.

Praising an honest person who doesn't deserve it, always wounds them.

Who lives content with little possesses everything.

Ignorance is always ready to admire itself. Procure yourself critical friends.

A proud bigot, who is vain enough to think that he can deceive even God by affected zeal, and throwing the veil of holiness over vices, damns all mankind by the word of his power.

Sometimes a fool makes a good suggestion.

Now two punctilious envoys, Thine and Mine, Embroil the earth about a fancied line; And, dwelling much on right and much on wrong, Prove how the right is chiefly with the strong.

At times truth may not seem probable. [Fr., Le vrai peut quelquefois n'etre pas vraisemblable.]

Gold lends a touch of beauty even to the ugly.

Everything that poverty touches becomes frightful.

The greatest fools are oft the most satisfied.

He [Moliere] pleases all the world, but cannot please himself.

No one who cannot limit himself has ever been able to write.

Let a single complete action, in one place and one day, keep the theatre packed to the last.