Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux Quotes
1636–1711 France
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux (1 November 1636 – 13 March 1711), commonly called Boileau, was a French poet and critic.
Also known as: Boileau, Boileau-Despreaux, Nicholas, Boileau-Despréaux, Nicholas, Nicholas Boileau-Despreaux
Random Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux quote
33 quotes
Gold gives an appearance of beauty even to ugliness:
But with poverty everything becomes frightful.
Satires (1716)
If your descent is from heroic sires,
Show in your life a remnant of their fires.
Satires (1716)
A felicitous thought is as clearly exprest,
And true words are not wanting in which it is drest.
"There, take," says Justice, "take ye each a shell;
We thrive at Westminster on fools like you.
'T was a fat oyster! live in peace,—adieu."
At times truth may not seem probable.
The Art of Poetry (1674)
Truth has not such an urgent air.
The Art of Poetry (1674)
Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with ease.
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.
Satires (1716)
I can call nothing by name if that is not his name. I call a cat a cat, and Rollet a rogue.
Satires (1716)
Now two punctilious envoys, Thine and Mine,
Embroil the earth about a fancied line;
And, dwelling much on right and much on wrong,
Prove how the right is chiefly with the strong.
Satires (1716)
Greatest fools are oft most satisfied.
Satires (1716)
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.
Satires (1716)
Hasten then, but full slowly: don’t lose heart of grace;
And your work twenty times on the easel replace.
Be continually polishing; polish again;
Add something to this part; through that draw your pen.