Nicolas Boileau
Nicolas Boileau
Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux, often known simply as Boileau, was a French poet and critic...
burden
The dreadful burden of having nothing to do.
nature spring break-through
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.
simple littles simple-living
Who lives content with little possesses everything.
fool humour admire
A fool always finds a greater fool to admire him.
strong two dwelling
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.
men thinking rome
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.
art writing limits
He who cannot limit himself will never know how to write.
friendship praise advise
Attach yourself to those who advise you rather than praise you.
honest praise persons
Praising an honest person who doesn't deserve it, always wounds them.
simplicity wells
What is conceived well is expressed clearly.
reason rhyme
Some excel in rhyme who reason foolishly.
understanding ease flow
Whatever we well understand we express clearly, and words flow with ease.
beach islands honor
Honor is like an island, rugged and without a beach; once we have left it, we can never return.
poverty ending-poverty
With poverty everything becomes frightful.