Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux

He [Moliere] pleases every one but can not please himself.
[Fr., Il plait a tout le monde et ne read more

He [Moliere] pleases every one but can not please himself.
[Fr., Il plait a tout le monde et ne saurait se plaire.]

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.]

Whatever we conceive well we express clearly, and words flow with
ease.
[Fr., Ce que l'on concoit bien read more

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.]

Time flies and draws us with it. The moment in which I am
speaking is already far from me.
read more

Time flies and draws us with it. The moment in which I am
speaking is already far from me.
[Fr., Le temps fuit, et nous traine avec soi:
Le moment ou je parle est deja loin de moi.]

Hasten slowly, and without losing heart, put your work twenty
times upon the anvil.
[Fr., Hatez-vous lentement; et, read more

Hasten slowly, and without losing heart, put your work twenty
times upon the anvil.
[Fr., Hatez-vous lentement; et, sans perdre courage,
Vingt fois sur le metier remettez votre ouvrage.]