17 quotes
To joke in the face of danger is the supreme politeness, a delicate refusal to cast oneself as a tragic hero.
I loved but once, yet twice I lose my love!
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
It is at night that faith in light is admirable.
You blessed my life!
Never on me had rested woman's love.
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
Yes, a poet, … and, to such an extent, that while we fence, I will, hop!, extempore, compose you a ballade!
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
What say you? It is useless? Ay, I know
But who fights ever hoping for success?
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
Ah, no, young man, that is not enough!
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
Malebranche would have it that not a soul is left; we humbly think that there still are hearts.
Chantecler (1910)
Call no one. Leave me not;
When you come back, I should be gone for aye.
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
Without doubt
I can teach crowing: for I gobble.
Chantecler (1910)
No, In fairy tales
When to the ill-starred Prince the lady says
"I love you!" all his ugliness fades fast —
But I remain the same, up to the last!
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
That, my dear sir, or something not unlike, is what you could have said to me, had you the smallest leaven of letters or wit; but of wit, O most pitiable of objects made by God, you never had a rudiment, and of letters, you have just those that are needed to spell "fool!"
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
I fall back
dazzled at beholding myself all rosy red,
At having, I myself, caused the sun to rise.
Chantecler (1910)
Of my broad felt made lighter,
I cast my mantle broad,
And stand, poet and fighter,
To do and to record.
I bow, I draw my sword …
En garde! With steel and wit
I play you at first abord …
At the last line, I hit!
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
And sounding in advance its victory,
My song jets forth so clear, so proud, so peremptory,
That the horizon, seized with a rosy trembling,
Obeys me.
Chantecler (1910)
You strip from me the laurel and the rose!
Take all! Despite you there is yet one thing
I hold against you all, and when, tonight,
I enter Christ's fair courts, and, lowly bowed,
Sweep with doffed casque the heavens' threshold blue,
One thing is left, that, void of stain or smutch,
I bear away despite you …
My panache.
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)
I know you now, old enemies of mine!
Falsehood!
Have at you! Ha! and Compromise!
Prejudice, Treachery! …
Surrender, I?
Parley? No, never! You too, Folly, — you?
I know that you will lay me low at last;
Let be! Yet I fall fighting, fighting still!
Cyrano de Bergerac (1897)