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Nicolas Boileau-Despréaux. (1636–1711) (continued)

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Every age has its pleasures, its style of wit, and its own ways.

The Art of Poetry. Canto iii. Line 374.

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He [Molière] pleases all the world, but cannot please himself.

Satire 2.

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“There, take,” says Justice, “take ye each a shell;
We thrive at Westminster on fools like you.
’T was a fat oyster! live in peace,—adieu.” 1

Epître ii.

Alain René Le Sage. (1668–1747)

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It may be said that his wit shines at the expense of his memory. 2

Gil Blas. Book iii. Chap. xi.

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I wish you all sorts of prosperity with a little more taste.

Gil Blas. Book vii. Chap. iv.

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Isocrates was in the right to insinuate, in his elegant Greek expression, that what is got over the Devil’s back is spent under his belly. 3

Gil Blas. Book viii. Chap. ix.

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Facts are stubborn things. 4

Gil Blas. Book x. Chap. i.

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Plain as a pike-staff. 5

Gil Blas. Book xii. Chap. viii.

François Marie Arouet de Voltaire. (1694–1778)

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If there were no God, it would be necessary to invent him. 6

Epître à l’Auteur du Livre des Trois Imposteurs. cxi.

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The king [Frederic] has sent me some of his dirty linen to wash; I will wash yours another time. 7

Reply to General Manstein.

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Men use thought only as authority for their injustice, and employ speech only to conceal their thoughts. 8

Dialogue xiv. Le Chapon et la Poularde (l763).

Note 1.
See Pope, Quotation 225. [back]

Note 2.
See Sheridan, Quotation 41. [back]

Note 3.
See Rabelais, Quotation 48. [back]

Note 4.
See Smollett, Quotation 3. [back]

Note 5.
See Middleton, Quotation 12. [back]

Note 6.
See Tillotson, Quotation 1. [back]

Note 7.
Voltaire writes to his niece Dennis, July 24, 1752, “Voilà le roi qui m’envoie son linge à blanchir.” [back]

Note 8.
See Young, Quotation 64. [back]