Jacques Bénigne Bossuet Quotes

There is nothing worse than anarchy, that is to say living without government and without laws.

[I]l n'y a rien de pire que l'anarchie, c'est-a-dire de vivre sans gouvernement et sans lois.

All demonstrated truth is necessary, eternal and immutable.

[T]oute vérité démontrée est nécessaire, eternelle et immuable.

The fruit of demonstration is science.

Le fruit de la démonstration est la science.

[L]'imagination aide beaucoup l'intelligence.

Thus it belongs to the spirit, that is to say to the understanding, to judge beauty; because to judge beauty is to judge order, proportion and rightness; things that only the mind can perceive.

Ainsi il appartient à l'esprit , c'est-a-dire à l'intendement, de juger de la beauté; parce que juger de la beauté, c'est juger de l'ordre, de la proportion et de la justesse; choses que l'esprit seul peut apercevoir.

Only great souls know the grandeur there is in charity.

Honor is like the eye, which cannot suffer the least impurity without damage. It is a precious stone, the price of which is lessened by a single flaw.

Human happiness consists in living according to reason.

[L]a felicité de l'homme consiste a vivre selon la raison.

The heretic is one who has an opinion; and that is what the word itself signifies. What does it mean to have an opinion? It is to follow one's own particular thought and feeling. But the Catholic is catholic: that is to say, he is universal; and without having any particular sentiment, he follows without hesitation that of the Church.

L'hérétique est celui qui ha une opinion; et c'est ce que le mot même signifie. Quest-ce a dire, avoir une opinion? C'est suivre sa propre pensée et son sentiment particulier. Mais le Catholique est catholique: c'est-a-dire qu'il est universel; et sans avoir de sentiment particulier, il suit sans hèsiter celui de l'Eglise.