Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux Quotes - Page 3

Happy the poet who with ease can steer From grave to gay, from lively to severe. [Lat., Heureux qui, dans ses vers, sait d'une voix legere Passer du grave au doux, du plaisant au severe.]

A warmed-up dinner was never worth much.

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.

Nothing but truth is lovely, nothing fair.

But satire, ever moral, ever new, Delights the reader and instructs him, too. She, if good sense refine her sterling page, Oft shakes some rooted folly of the age.

Something of calumny always sticks.

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

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

To support those of your rights authorized by Heaven, destroy everything rather than yield; that is the spirit of the Church.

The greatest fools are oft the most satisfied.

The dreadful burden of having nothing to do.

Everything that poverty touches becomes frightful.

Gold lends a touch of beauty even to the ugly.