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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

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Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
Age: 75 †
Born: 1636
Born: January 1
Died: 1711
Died: January 1
Historian
Lawyer
Literary Critic
Poet
Writer
Paris
France
Boileau
Nicolas Boileau
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
Lying
Spite
Show
Degree
Shows
Degrees
Every
Lies
Unerring
Never
Difference
Dwelt
Differences
Greece
Wisdom
Sage
Age
Folly

More quotes by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

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It is in vain a daring author thinks of attaining to the heights of Parnassus if he does not feel the secret influence of heaven and if his natal star has not formed him to be a poet.
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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.
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Ignorance is always ready to admire itself. Procure yourself critical friends.
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If your descent is from heroic sires, Show in your life a remnant of their fires.
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What is conceived well is expressed clearly.
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Nothing but truth is lovely, nothing fair.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
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Time flies and draws us with it. The moment in which I am speaking is already far from me.
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Who is content with nothing possesses all things.
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A burlesque word is often a powerful sermon.
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With poverty everything becomes frightful.
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It is the sin which we have not committed which seems the most monstrous.
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He [Moliere] pleases all the world, but cannot please himself.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
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The wisest man is he who does not fancy that he is so at all.
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The dreadful burden of having nothing to do.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
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He who cannot limit himself will never know how to write.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
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Gold lends a touch of beauty even to the ugly.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
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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.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
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Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
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Whatever we well understand we express clearly, and words flow with ease.
Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
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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