Quotes from Alexandre Dumas

Did you not hear what I said, sir? I told you there was fire in my sentence. And though it is only after death that my body is to be burnt, it will always be a terrible disgrace on my memory. I am saved the pain of being burnt alive, and thus, perhaps, saved from a death of despair, but the shamefulness is the same, and it is that I think of.

On ne s'occupe pas assez, chez nous, de la dernière demeure de ceux qu'on aime : on pare leur lit d'un jour, et on oublie leur couche de l'éternité !

This commissary was a man of very repulsive mien, with a pointed nose, with yellow and salient cheek bones, with eyes small but keen and penetrating, and an expression of countenance resembling at once the polecat and the fox. His head, supported by a long and flexible neck, issued from his large black robe, balancing itself with a motion very much like that of the tortoise thrusting his head out of his shell.

People in general only ask advice not to follow it; or if they do follow it, it is for the sake of having some one to blame for having given it

Obsequies, madame, are for those who survive, not for the dead.

He did the right thing,' the count replied. 'He has a noble heart. He realized that every man owes some debt to his country: some give their talents, others their hard work; some watch, others bleed. Had he stayed

What melancholy thought,' said the King, 'can possibly reach your heart when I place mine as a rampart before it?

The jailer brought him his breakfast. Dantes raised himself up and began to talk about everything; about the bad quality of the food, about the coldness of his dungeon, grumbling and complaining, in order to have an excuse for speaking louder, and wearying the patience of his jailer, who out of kindness of heart had brought broth and white bread for his prisoner.

Ah, Caderousse,' said Andrea, 'how covetous you are! Two months ago you were dying with hunger.' 'The appetite grows by what it feeds on,' said Caderousse.

with you, he would have wasted a life that had become useless to him and would have been unable to accustom himself to your grief. The frustration would have filled him with hatred. Now he will become great and strong by struggling against adversities that he will change into good fortune. Let him rebuild the future for both of you, Madame. I can promise that he is in good hands.

Ne craignez pas les occasions et cherchez les aventures.

El señor Morrel comprendió que nada podía intentarse: un comisario con su faja no es ya un hombre, es la estatua de la ley, fría, sorda, muda.

You will live for me, as I will live for you.

But God laughs at he presumption of man. Who wants to raise and prostrate the powers on earth without consulting the King above.

Thousand and One Nights.

To despise flowers is to offend God. The more beautiful the flower is, the more does one offend God in despising it. The tulip is the most beautiful of all flowers. Therefore, he who despises the tulip offends God beyond measure.

since like every man burdened with thoughts of the past, he was occupied with seeking the thread of his own ideas in those of the speaker.

Je sais que le monde est un salon dont il faut sortir poliment et honnêtement, c'est-à-dire en saluant et en payant ses dettes de jeu.

After this, satisfied with the way in which he had conducted himself at Meung, without remorse for the past, confident in the present, and full of hope for the future, he retired to bed and slept the sleep of the brave.

In politica, mio caro, lo sapete quanto me, non ci sono uomini ma idee; non sentimenti ma interessi; in politica non si uccide un uomo: si elimina un ostacolo, ecco tutto.

You know, Edmond, I am no longer a thinking creature. I have no further resolve except that of never again being resolved about anything. God has so shaken me with storms that I have lost all willpower. I am in His hands, like a sparrow in the claws of an eagle. Since I am alive, He does not want me to die. If He sends me any succour, it will be because He wants it, and I shall accept.

Sunteti monsenior pentru servitorii dumneavoastra, pentru jurnalisti sunteti domn, iar pentru mandatarii dumneavoastar sunteti cetatean. Sunt nuante foarte potrivite pentru un guvern constitutional.

Adev?rat, monseniore. M? simt fericit de când m? aflu aici È™i numai pentru c? m? aflu aici. Privesc cu o bucurie plin? de înduioÈ™are casele, copacii, drumurile, pe care un str?in nici nu poate s? le bage de seam?. Hot?rât, nu respiri bine, cred eu, decât aerul pe care l-ai respirat în ziua când ai venit pe lume!

Femeia aceasta este într-adev?r frumoas?, dar frumoas? ca o moart?, frumoas? ca o umbr?, frumoas? ca vedeniile ce È›i se arat? în vis; tocmai de aceea mi se pare c-am v?zut-o în vis... È™i am avut vreo dou?-trei visuri însp?imânt?toare în viaÈ›a mea, de care când îmi amintesc îmi înghea?? sângele în vine