“Je ne dois qu'à moi seul toute ma renommée." (L'Excuse à Ariste)”
Source: Chief Plays of Corneille
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Famous Pierre Corneille Quotes
Source: Le Cid
Source: Cinna
Source: Cinna
“If anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people only more so.”
“Those who resolve to conquer or die, are rarely conquered.”
“And the combat ceased, for want of combatants.”
Source: Le Cid
“Brave men are brave from the very first. [Fr., Les hommes valeureux le sont au premier coup.]”
“Guess, if you can, and choose, if you dare. [Lat., Devine, si tu peux, et choisis, si tu l'oses.]”
“Generosity is the accompaniment of high birth; pity and gratitude are its attendants.”
“He on whom heaven confers a sceptre knows not the weight till he bears it.”
“Heaven often regulates effects by their causes, and pays the wicked what they have deserved.”
“To myself alone do I owe my fame. [Fr., Je ne dois qu'a moi seul toute ma renommee.]”
“Happiness seems made to be shared. [Fr., Le bonheur semble fait pour etre partage.]”
“A good memory is needed once we have lied. [Fr., Il faut bonne memoire apres qu'on a menti.]”
“A liar is always lavish of oaths. [Fr., Un menteur est toujours prodigue de serments.]”
“It is the guilt, not the scaffold, which constitutes the shame.”
“All great virtues become great men. [Fr., Toutes grandes vertus conviennent aux grands hommes.]”
“I am young, it is true; but in noble souls valor does not wait for years.”
“I love you much less than my God, but much more than myself.”
“If you betray me, can I take a better revenge than to love the person you hate?”
“Rome, if you do not wish me to betray you, make enemies that I can hate!”
“It is hard to hate what one has loved, and a half-extinguished fire is soon relit.”
“Sir, what does it matter whom I serve, so long as I am right?”
“How sweet to die after one's enemies.”
Source: Chief Plays of Corneille
“I would tell you I love you, Sir, if I knew what it was to love.”