Pierre Corneille

Force is legitimate where gentleness avails not.

— Pierre Corneille

One doesn't wish to see those to whom one owes so much.

— Pierre Corneille

A liar is always lavish of oaths. [Fr., Un menteur est toujours prodigue de serments.]

— Pierre Corneille

He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.

— Pierre Corneille

After having won a scepter, few are so generous as to disdain the pleasures of ruling.

— Pierre Corneille

Those who resolve to conquer or die, are rarely conquered.

— Pierre Corneille

Your arm is unvanquished, but not invincible.

— Pierre Corneille

For souls nobly born, valor doesn't await the passing of years

— Pierre Corneille

Clemency is the surest proof of a true monarch. [Fr., La clemence est la plus belle marque Qui fasse a l'univers connaitre…

— Pierre Corneille

Love lives on hope, and dies when hope is dead; It is a flame which sinks for lack of fuel.

— Pierre Corneille

“A vaincre sans peril, on triomphe sans gloire- To win without risk is a triumph without glory”

— Pierre Corneille

Master of the universe but not of myself, I am the only rebel against my absolute power.

— Pierre Corneille

I can be forced to live without happiness, but I will never consent to live without honor.

— Pierre Corneille

A monarch must sometimes rule even himself: he who wants everything must risk very little.

— Pierre Corneille

To take revenge halfheartedly is to court disaster; either condemn or crown your hatred.

— Pierre Corneille

Every brave man is a man of his word; to such base vices he cannot stoop, and shuns more than death the…

— Pierre Corneille

One often calms one's grief by recounting it.

— Pierre Corneille

To conquer without risk is to triumph without glory.

— Pierre Corneille

They who overcome their desires once can overcome them always.

— Pierre Corneille

As great as kings may be, they are what we are: they can err like other men.

— Pierre Corneille

Happiness seems made to be shared. [Fr., Le bonheur semble fait pour etre partage.]

— Pierre Corneille

Ambition, having reached the summit, longs to descend.

— Pierre Corneille

When obedience is so impious, revolt is a necessity.

— Pierre Corneille

The king, just and prudent, wants only those things which he can get.

— Pierre Corneille

The greater the effort, the greater the glory.

— Pierre Corneille

I love you much less than my God, but much more than myself.

— Pierre Corneille

Just vengeance does not call for punishment.

— Pierre Corneille

To win without risk is to triumph without glory.

— Pierre Corneille

Your virtue raises your glory above your crime.

— Pierre Corneille

Severity is allowable where gentleness has no effect.

— Pierre Corneille

This dark brightness that falls from the stars.

— Pierre Corneille

Time is a great manager: it arranges things well.

— Pierre Corneille

“A vaincre sans péril, on triomphe sans gloire.”

— Pierre Corneille

Heaven absolves all crimes committed to gain a throne Once Heaven gives it to us.

— Pierre Corneille

It is hard to hate what one has loved, and a half-extinguished fire is soon relit.

— Pierre Corneille

True, I am young, but for souls nobly born valor doesn't await the passing of years.

— Pierre Corneille

To vanquish without peril is to triumph without glory.

— Pierre Corneille

Sir, what does it matter whom I serve, so long as I am right?

— Pierre Corneille

I am young, it is true; but in noble souls valor does not wait for years.

— Pierre Corneille

Alas, I emerge from one disaster to fall into a worse.

— Pierre Corneille