Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux quotes

The terrible burden of having nothing to do. (Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux)
However big the fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Time flies and draws us with it. The moment in which I am speaking is already far from me. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Gold gives an appearance of beauty even to ugliness: But with poverty everything becomes frightful. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Whatever is well conceived is clearly said, And the words to say it flow with ease. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
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. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Honor is like an island, rugged and without a beach; once we have left it, we can never return. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Virtue alone is the unerring sign of a noble soul. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
If your descent is from heroic sires, Show in your life a remnant of their fires. (Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux)
Nothing but truth is lovely, nothing fair. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Often the fear of one evil leads us into a worse. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Truth has not such an urgent air. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
A fop sometimes gives important advice. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
He (Molière) pleases all the world, but cannot please himself. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Greatest fools are oft most satisfied. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Of all the creatures that creep, swim, or fly, Peopling the earth, the waters, and the sky, From Rome to Iceland, Paris to Japan, I really think the greatest fool is man. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Happy the poet who with ease can steer From grave to gay, from lively to severe. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
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. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
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-Despréaux)
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. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
The wisest man is he who is certain he is not. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
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. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux
Trouble rides behind and gallops with him. View quote
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux