Molière Quotes

We must eat to live, and not live to eat.

Everything is equally endowed with great merit, so that it is no longer an honor to be lauded.

All the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill at dancing.

ORGON. Brother, your language smacks of atheism; And I suspect your soul's a little tainted Therewith. I've preached to you a score of times That you'll draw down some judgment on your head.

My claims were justified in all men's sight; I put my trust in equity and right; Yet, to my horror and the world's disgrace, Justice is mocked, and I have lost my case! A scoundrel whose dishonesty is notorious Emerges from another lie victorious!

Tous ces défauts humains nous donnent, dans la vie,
Des moyens d'exercer notre philosophie

Kogu inimkond on nii vastik rämps ja park,
et mind solvata võiks, kui näiksin neile tark.

Writing is like prostitution. First you do it for love, and then for a few close friends, and then for money.

Contre la médisance il n'est point de rempart.

To marry a fool is to be no fool.

Grammar, which knows how to control even kings.

The heart can do anything.

It is not what we do, but also what we do not do, for which we are accountable.

Mademoiselle De Brie: But it can't be much fun seeing your work torn to shreds.

Moliere: What do I care? Didn't I get everything I wanted from my play? I was lucky — it appealed to the distinguished audience I was particularly eager to please. Don't you think I'm right to be happy with how it turned out? Can't you see that their attacks have come too late? It's out of my hands at this point. If people attack a successful play, they're attacking the audience who liked it, for their lack of judgement, not the art of the man who wrote the play, don't you see?

Why put yourself in charge of Heaven's cause?
Does Heaven need our help to enforce its laws?