Quotes from Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

At last comes Malherbe and, the first to do so in France, brings to his verse a smooth cadence.

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.

Happy who in his verse can gently steerFrom grave to light, from pleasant to severe.

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

Greatest fools are the most often satisfied.

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

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.

Praising an honest person who doesn't deserve it, always wounds them.

Some excel in rhyme who reason foolishly.

Le vrai peut quelquefois n'être pas vraisemblable. (At times truth may not seem probable)

A fool can always find a greater fool to admire him

Honor is like an island, rugged and without shores; we can never reenter it once we are on the outside.