Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

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.]

A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him.
[Fr., Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot read more

A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him.
[Fr., Un sot trouve toujours un plus sot qui l'admire.]

Virtue alone is the unerring sign of a noble soul.
[Fr., La vertu d'un coeur noble est la marque read more

Virtue alone is the unerring sign of a noble soul.
[Fr., La vertu d'un coeur noble est la marque certaine.]

That which is repeated too often becomes insipid and tedious.
[Fr., Tout ce qu'on dit de trop est fade read more

That which is repeated too often becomes insipid and tedious.
[Fr., Tout ce qu'on dit de trop est fade et rebutant.]

I can call nothing by name if that is not his name. I call a cat
a cat, and read more

I can call nothing by name if that is not his name. I call a cat
a cat, and Rollet a rogue.
[Fr., Je ne puis rien nommer si ce n'est par son nom;
J'appelle un chat un chat, et Rollet un fripon.]