Though you be sprung in direct line from Hercules, if you show a lowborn meanness, that long succession of ancestors whom you disgrace are so many witnesses against you; and this grand display of their tarnished glory but serves to make your ignominy more evident.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Categorized in : Long Lines Ancestry

Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with... by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with ease.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

oratory flow ease

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

Hasten slowly, and without losing heart, put your work twenty tim... by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Hasten slowly, and without losing heart, put your work twenty times upon the anvil.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

twenties work heart

A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him. by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

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

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

admire plus fool

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

differences wisdom lying

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

fools-day glasses break-up

Who is content with nothing possesses all things. by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Who is content with nothing possesses all things.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

all-things

However big the fool, there is always a bigger fool to admire him... by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

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

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

fool stupidity bigs

Whate'er is well conceived is clearly said, And the words to say... by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

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

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

flow ease said

When we envy another, we make their virtue our vice. by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

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

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

envy virtue vices

Gold gives an appearance of beauty even to ugliness: But with pov... by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Gold gives an appearance of beauty even to ugliness: But with poverty everything becomes frightful.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

poverty gold giving

It is the sin which we have not committed which seems the most mo... by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

It is the sin which we have not committed which seems the most monstrous.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

committed sin seems

Honor is like an island, rugged and without shores; we can never re-enter it once we are on the outside.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

plus honor islands

Whatever we well understand we express clearly, and words flow wi... by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Whatever we well understand we express clearly, and words flow with ease.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

oratory understanding ease

Bring your work back to the workshop twenty times. Polish it cont... by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

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

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

workshops twenties practice

All men are fools, and with every effort they differ only in the... by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

All men are fools, and with every effort they differ only in the degree.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

degrees effort men

At times truth may not seem probable. by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

At times truth may not seem probable.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

trust truth may

A burlesque word is often a powerful sermon. by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

A burlesque word is often a powerful sermon.

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

burlesque sermons powerful

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

break-through nature spring

Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways. by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

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

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

style age way