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Quote by 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.”

Quote by Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Author

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux was a prominent French poet of the 17th century, known for his classical poetry and literary criticism. His works emphasized order, rules, and reason, and had a profound impact on subsequent literary development. more

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“A proud bigot, who is vain enough to think that he can deceive even God by affected zeal, and throwing the veil of holiness over vices, damns all mankind by the word of his power.”

Thinking Enough Mankind Proud Vices Vain Holiness Bigotry Affected Throwing Deceiving Veils Zeal Bigots

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“A fool always finds one still more foolish to admire him.”

Stills Fool Foolish Admire Folly Plus

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“All men are fools, and with every effort they differ only in the degree.”

Men Effort Fool Degrees

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“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.]”

Wells Flow Ease Oratory

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“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.]”

Poet Gay Graves Ease Severe Lively Steers

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“Honor is like an island, rugged and without shores; we can never re-enter it once we are on the outside. [Fr., L'honneur est comme une ile escarpee et sans bords; On n'y peut plus rentrer des qu'on en est dehors.]”

Honor Islands Plus Shore Rugged

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“We're on this planet for the briefest of moments in cosmic terms, and I want to spend that time thinking about what I consider the deepest questions.”

Thinking Want Moments Term Planets Cosmic

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“Of all the animals which fly in the air, walk on the land, or swim in the sea, from Paris to Peru, from Japan to Rome, the most foolish animal in my opinion is man.”

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“It is the sin which we have not committed which seems the most monstrous.”

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

May Seems Truth

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