Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux Quotes

Quotes about:

• Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with ease.
  [Fr., Ce que l'on concoit bien s'enonce clairement,
  Et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisement.]

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Oratory, Ease, Flow

  53 Copy quote

• A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Fool, Plus, Admire

  "The Art of Poetry (Canto I)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1674.

  24 Copy quote

• 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.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Nature, Animal, Men

  32 Copy quote

• Hasten slowly, and without losing heart, put your work twenty times upon the anvil.
  [Fr., Hatez-vous lentement; et, sans perdre courage,
  Vingt fois sur le metier remettez votre ouvrage.]

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Work, Heart, Twenties

  18 Copy quote

• 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.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Break Up, Glasses, Fools Day

  9 Copy quote

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

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Friendship, Praise, Advise

  11 Copy quote

• Who is content with nothing possesses all things.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  All Things

  18 Copy quote

• When we envy another, we make their virtue our vice.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Envy, Vices, Virtue

  12 Copy quote

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

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Ease, Flow, Said

  "The Art of Poetry (Canto I)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1674.

  18 Copy quote

• Who lives content with little possesses everything.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Simple, Littles, Simple Living

  6 Copy quote

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

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Ignorance, Science, Admire

  5 Copy quote

• At times truth may not seem probable.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Trust, Truth, May

  "The Art of Poetry (Canto III)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1674.

  12 Copy quote

• Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Style, Age, Way

  "The Art of Poetry (Canto III)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1674.

  8 Copy quote

• Bring your work back to the workshop twenty times. Polish it continuously, and polish it again.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Practice, Twenties, Workshops

  10 Copy quote

• A fop sometimes gives important advice.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Giving, Advice, Important

  "The Art of Poetry (Canto IV)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1674.

  8 Copy quote

• Truth has not such an urgent air.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Truth, Air, Urgent

  "The Art of Poetry (Canto I)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1674.

  8 Copy quote

• That which is repeated too often becomes insipid and tedious.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Boredom, Speech, Insipid

  "The Art of Poetry (Canto I)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1674.

  7 Copy quote

• 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.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Wisdom, Lying, Differences

  "Satires (Satire 4)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1716.

  16 Copy quote

• Often the fear on one evil leads us into a worse.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Evil

  "The Art of Poetry (Canto I)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1674.

  14 Copy quote

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

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Beauty, Beautiful, Truth

  11 Copy quote

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

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Stupidity, Fool, Bigs

  20 Copy quote

• Time flies and draws us with it. The moment in which I am speaking is already far from me.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Time, Moments, Draws

  "Épitres". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1701.

  14 Copy quote

• Honor is like an island, rugged and without shores; we can never re-enter it once we are on the outside.
  [Fr., L'honneur est comme une ile escarpee et sans bords;
  On n'y peut plus rentrer des qu'on en est dehors.]

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Islands, Honor, Plus

  14 Copy quote

• Happy who in his verse can gently steer, From grave to light, from pleasant to severe.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Happiness, Light, Graves

  "The Art of Poetry (Canto I)". Book by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux, 1674.

  4 Copy quote

• Nature always springs to the surface and manages to show what she is. It is vain to stop or try to drive her back. She breaks through every obstacle, pushes forward, and at last makes for herself a way.

  Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

  Nature, Spring, Break Through

  12 Copy quote

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