Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with
ease.
[Fr., Ce que l'on concoit bien read more

Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with
ease.
[Fr., Ce que l'on concoit bien s'enonce clairement,
Et les mots pour le dire arrivent aisement.]

Happy the poet who with ease can steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe.
[Lat., read more

Happy the poet who with ease can steer
From grave to gay, from lively to severe.
[Lat., Heureux qui, dans ses vers, sait d'une voix legere
Passer du grave au doux, du plaisant au severe.]

Gold gives an appearance of beauty even to ugliness: but with
poverty everything becomes frightful.
[Fr., L'or meme read more

Gold gives an appearance of beauty even to ugliness: but with
poverty everything becomes frightful.
[Fr., L'or meme a la laideur donne un teint de beaute:
Mais tout devient affreux avec la pauvrete.]

No one is satisfied with his fortune, nor dissatisfied with his
intellect.
[Fr., Nul n'est content de sa read more

No one is satisfied with his fortune, nor dissatisfied with his
intellect.
[Fr., Nul n'est content de sa fortune;
Ni mecontent de son esprit.]

He [Moliere] pleases every one but can not please himself.
[Fr., Il plait a tout le monde et ne read more

He [Moliere] pleases every one but can not please himself.
[Fr., Il plait a tout le monde et ne saurait se plaire.]