Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

Let him now speak, or else hereafter for ever hold his peace.

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.]

At times truth may not seem probable.
[Fr., Le vrai peut quelquefois n'etre pas vraisemblable.]

At times truth may not seem probable.
[Fr., Le vrai peut quelquefois n'etre pas vraisemblable.]

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.]

The wisest man is generally he who thinks himself the least so.

The wisest man is generally he who thinks himself the least so.