Tag: Molière

The world will not reform for all your meddling.

Molière

Although I am a pious man, I am not the less a man.

Molière

On some preference esteem is based;

To esteem everything is to esteem nothing.

Molière

It is a wonderful seasoning of all enjoyments to think of those we love.

Molière

A learned fool is more foolish than an ignorant one.

Molière

Ah, it’s a lovely thing to know a thing or two.

Molière

If everyone were clothed with integrity,

If every heart were just, frank, kindly,

The other virtues would be well-nigh useless,

Since their chief purpose is to make us bear with patience

The injustice of our fellows.

Molière

He’s a wonderful talker, who has the art

Of telling you nothing in a great harangue.

Molière

The world, dear Agnes, is a strange affair.

Molière

If the purpose of comedy be to chastise human weaknesses I see no reason why any class of people should be exempt. This particular failing is one of the most damaging of all in its public consequences and we have seen that the theatre is a great medium of correction. The finest passages of a serious moral treatise are all too often less effective than those of a satire and for the majority of people there is no better form of reproof than depicting their faults to them: the most effective way of attacking vice is to expose it to public ridicule. People can put up with rebukes but they cannot bear being laughed at: they are prepared to be wicked but they dislike appearing ridiculous.

Molière