“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.” IfsLongShowsLinesGloryDirectWitnessAncestorDisplayEvidentDisgraceSuccessionAncestryMeannessSprungIgnominy Author:Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
“It is in vain a daring author thinks of attaining to the heights of Parnassus if he does not feel the secret influence of heaven and if his natal star has not formed him to be a poet.” IfsThinkingFeelsDoeHeavenStarsSecretInfluencePoetVainHeightDaringAuthorshipNatal Author:Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
“If your descent is from heroic sires, Show in your life a remnant of their fires.” IfsLifeShowsFireHeroicAncestorAncestryDescentRemnants Author:Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux
“But satire, ever moral, ever new, Delights the reader and instructs him, too. She, if good sense refine her sterling page, Oft shakes some rooted folly of the age.” IfsAgeMoralReaderPagesDelightFollyShakesSatireRootedGood SenseSterling Author:Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux