Quotes from Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

The dreadful burden of having nothing to do.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

He who cannot limit himself will never know how to write.

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

Gold lends a touch of beauty even to the ugly.

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

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

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.

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.

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