Quotes from Jean Racine

Presente, huyes: ausente, te encuentro otra vez.

Le nom d'amant peut-être offense son courage; Mais il en a les yeux, s'il n'en a le langage.

Pour qui sont ces serpents qui sifflent sur vos têtes ?

J'aime en lui sa beauté, sa grâce tant vantée, Présents dont la nature a voulu l'honorer, Qu'il méprise lui-même, et qu'il semble ignorer.

In their opinion, a tragedy with so little plot could not conform with the rules of drama. I enquired whether they were complaining that they had found my play boring. I was told that none of them was bored, that they were often touched by it, and that they would go and see it again with pleasure. What more do they want?

Twas easier to disarm the god of strength Than this Hippolytus, for Hercules Yielded so often to the eyes of beauty, As to make triumph cheap. ? Jean Racine, Phèdre

Grâces au ciel, mes mains ne sont point criminelles. Plût aux dieux que mon cÅ"ur fût innocent comme elles!

How little do the lips and heart agree! How joyfully do people break their word! We both are strangers in a foreign land.

Do not expect me then to answer for A heart so little master of itself. He may, sir, in this frenzied turmoil wed The one he hates and spurn the one he loves.

The flames of Aphrodite maddened me; I loathed myself, and yearned outrageously like a starved wolf to fall upon the sheep.

Mais crains que l'avenir détruisant le passé

And do you count for nothing God who fights for us?

The principal rule of art is to please and to move. All the other rules were created to achieve this first one.

In fine, nothing is said now that has not been said before.

My death, taking the light from my eyes, gives back to the day the purity which they soiled.

Thank the Gods! My misery exceeds all my hopes!

Sun, I come to see you for the last time.

And forever goodbye! Forever! Oh, Sir, can you imagine how dreadful this cruel word sounds when one loves?

To repair the irreparable ravages of time.

I felt for my crime a just terror; I looked on my life with hate, and my passion with horror.

Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel.

Hell, covering all with its gloomy vapors, has cast shadows on even the holiest eyes.

There are no secrets that time does not reveal.

Love is not dumb. The heart speaks many ways.