Best Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux Quotes
- Praising an honest person who doesn't deserve it, always wounds them. Always Wounds
- Some excel in rhyme who reason foolishly. Excel
- What is conceived well is expressed clearly. Clearly
- 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… All
- 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… Chiefly
- Who is content with nothing possesses all things. All
- A fop sometimes gives important advice. Advice
- Something of calumny always sticks. Always Sticks
- To support those of your rights authorized by Heaven, destroy everything rather than yield; that is the spirit of the Church. Authorized
- A warmed-up dinner was never worth much. Dinner
- When we envy another, we make their virtue our vice. Envy
- Often the fear on one evil leads us into a worse. Evil
- That which is repeated too often becomes insipid and tedious. Becomes
- At times truth may not seem probable. Inspirational
- Truth has not such an urgent air. Air
- Virtue alone is the unerring sign of a noble soul. Alone
- Let a single complete action, in one place and one day, keep the theatre packed to the last. Action
- Nothing is really beautiful but truth, and truth alone is lovely. Alone
- Of every four words I write, I strike out three. Editing
- Bring your work back to the workshop twenty times. Polish it continuously, and polish it again. Bring
- A burlesque word is often a powerful sermon. Burlesque
- Time flies and draws us with it. The moment in which I am speaking is already far from me. Already Far