The genius of the French language, descended from its single Latin stock, has triumphed most in the contrary direction - in simplicity, in unity, in clarity, and in restraint. Lytton Strachey More Quotes by Lytton Strachey More Quotes From Lytton Strachey Perhaps of all the creations of man language is the most astonishing. Lytton Strachey creation-of-man writing men It is probably always disastrous not to be a poet. Lytton Strachey poet Human beings are too important to be treated as mere symptoms of the past. They have a value which is independent of any temporal process──which is eternal, and must be felt for its own sake. Lytton Strachey independent important past There is something dark and wintry about the atmosphere of the later Middle Ages. Lytton Strachey atmosphere age dark Perhaps the best test of a man's intelligence is his capacity for making a summary. Lytton Strachey tests capacity men When Louis XIV assumed the reins of government France suddenly and wonderfully came to her maturity; it was as if the whole nation had burst into splendid flower. Lytton Strachey maturity government flower The history of the Victorian Age will never be written: we know too much about it. Lytton Strachey unattainable age history There are a great deal of a great many kinds of love. Lytton Strachey great-men kind life But Racine's extraordinary powers as a writer become still more obvious when we consider that besides being a great poet he is also a great psychologist. Lytton Strachey psychologist obvious poetic In sheer genius Pascal ranks among the very greatest writers who have lived upon this earth. And his genius was not simply artistic; it displayed itself no less in his character and in the quality of his thought. Lytton Strachey quality genius character Modern as the style of Pascal's writing is, his thought is deeply impregnated with the spirit of the Middle Ages. He belonged, almost equally, to the future and to the past. Lytton Strachey style writing past A writer’s promise is like a tiger’s smile Lytton Strachey tigers promise The amateur is very rare in French literature - as rare as he is common in our own. Lytton Strachey french-literature literature common Though, with the ascendancy of Louis, the political power of the nobles finally came to an end, France remained, in the whole complexion of her social life, completely aristocratic. Lytton Strachey advertising france political The old interests of aristocracy - the romance of action, the exalted passions of chivalry and war - faded into the background, and their place was taken by the refined and intimate pursuits of peace and civilization. Lytton Strachey passion taken war Ignorance is the first requisite of the historian - ignorance, which simplifies and clarifies, which selects and omits, with a placid perfection unattainable by the highest art. Lytton Strachey ignorance perfection art Discretion is not the better part of biography. Lytton Strachey discretion biographies In pure literature, the writers of the eighteenth century achieved, indeed, many triumphs; but their great, their peculiar, triumphs were in the domain of thought. Lytton Strachey triumph peculiar literature Englishmen have always loved Moliere. Lytton Strachey englishmen It is perhaps as difficult to write a good life as to live one. Lytton Strachey good-life difficult writing
