French

Explore 473 quotes originally in French

Like everybody who is not in love, he imagined that one chose the person whom one loved after endless deliberations and on the strength of various qualities and advantages.

Marcel Proust

In Search of Lost Time

Buy Sodom and Gomorrah at Amazon Buy Sodom and Gomorrah at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of love

Author

Marcel Proust

Source

Sodom and Gomorrah In Search of Lost Time

Medium

Novel

Genre

Modernist literature

Language

French

Time

1921 1920s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Proust, Marcel. Sodom and Gomorrah. Paris: Grasset/Gallimard, 1921-1922.

Current Citation

Proust, Marcel. Sodom and Gomorrah, translated by John Sturrock. Penguin Classics, 2005.

Absence diminishes mediocre passions and increases great ones, as the wind blows out candles and fans fires.

François de La Rochefoucauld

Reflections

Buy Reflections at Amazon Buy Reflections at Amazon
Read Reflections at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Absence Missing someone

Author

François de La Rochefoucauld

Source

Reflections

Medium

Epigram

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

French

Time

1678 1670s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

La Rochefoucauld, Francois. Reflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims]. c. 1665.

Current Citation

La Rochefoucauld, Francois. Collected Maxims and Other Reflections, translated by E. H. and A. M. Blackmore and Francine Giguere. Oxford University Press, 2008.

FIRST LAW: In every animal... A more frequent and continuous use of any organ gradually strengthens, develops and enlarges that organ... While the permanent disuse of any organ imperceptibly weakens and deteriorates it, and progressively diminishes its functional capacity, until it finally disappears.
SECOND LAW: All the acquisitions or losses wrought by nature in individuals... Are preserved by reproductions to the new individuals which arise.

Jean-Baptiste Lamark

Philosophie Zoologique

More information about this quote

Topic

Evolution

Author

Jean-Baptiste Lamark

Source

Philosophie Zoologique

Language

French

Time

1809 1800s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Lamarck, Jean-Baptiste. Philosophie zoologique [Zoological Philosophy]. Paris: Musee d'Histoire Naturelle, 1809, pt. 1, ch. 7.

Current Citation

Lamarck, Jean-Baptiste. Zoological Philosophy, translated by Hugh Samuel Roger Elliott. Cambridge University Press, 2011, pt. 1, ch. 7.

Theory of the true civilization.
It is not to be found in gas or steam or table turning, It consists in the diminution of the traces of original sin.

Charles Baudelaire

More information about this quote

Topic

Civilization

Author

Charles Baudelaire

Language

French

Time

1867 1860s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Baudelaire, Charles. Mon Coeur mis a nu [My Naked Heart]. Paris, 1887, no. 58.

Current Citation

Baudelaire, Charles. "My Heart Laid Bare." Late Fragments: Flares, My Heart Laid Bare, Prose Poems, Belgium Disrobed, translated by Richard Sieburth. Yale University Press, 2022, no. 58.

In the misfortune of our best friends we often find something that is not displeasing.

François de La Rochefoucauld

Reflections

Buy Reflections at Amazon Buy Reflections at Amazon
Read Reflections at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Schadenfreude Friends

Author

François de La Rochefoucauld

Source

Reflections

Medium

Epigram

Language

French

Time

1678 1670s 17th century

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

La Rochefoucauld, Francois. Reflexions ou sentences et maximes morales [Reflections; or Sentences and Moral Maxims]. c. 1665.

Current Citation

La Rochefoucauld, Francois. Collected Maxims and Other Reflections, translated by E. H. and A. M. Blackmore and Francine Giguere. Oxford University Press, 2008.

Thought is only a gleam in the midst of a long night. But it is this gleam which is everything.

Henri Poincaré

The Value of Science

Read The Value of Science at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Power of thought

Author

Henri Poincaré

Source

The Value of Science

Genre

Scientific literature

Language

French

Time

1905 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Poincare, Henri. Valeur de la Science [The Value of Science]. Flammarion, 1904, ch. 11.

Current Citation

Poincare, Henri. The Value of Science: Essential Writings of Henri Poincare, edited by Stephen Jay Gould. Random House Publishing Group, 2001.

To name an object is to take away three-fourths of the pleasure given by a poem. This pleasure consists in guessing little by little to suggest it, that is the ideal.

Jules Huret

More information about this quote

Topic

Names Poetry

Speaker

Stephane Mallarme [Etienne Mallarme]

Author

Jules Huret

Language

French

Time

1891 1890s 19th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Mallarme, Stephane. Quoted in "Sur l'Evolution Litteraire [On Literary Evolution]." Enquete de Huret [Investigation by Jules Huret]. Bibliotheque-Charpentier, 1891.

The great mystery is not that we should have been thrown down here at random between the profusion of matter and that of the stars; it is that from our very prison we should draw, from our own selves, images powerful enough to deny our nothingness.

Andre Malraux

More information about this quote

Topic

The human condition

Speaker

Walter

Author

Andre Malraux

Source

The Walnut Trees of Altenburg

Medium

Novel

Language

French

Time

1943 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Malraux, Andre. Les Noyers de l'Altenburg [The Walnut Trees of Altenburg]. Gallimard, c. 1948.

We are becoming like cats, slyly parasitic, enjoying an indifferent domesticity. Nice and smug in "the social," our historic passions have withdrawn into the glow of an artificial coziness, and our half-closed eyes now seek little other than the peaceful parade of television pictures.

Jean Baudrillard

Buy Cool Memories at Amazon Buy Cool Memories at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Modern life

Author

Jean Baudrillard

Source

Cool Memories

Language

French

Time

1987 1980s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Baudrillard, Jean. Cool Memories: 1980-1985. Editions Galilee, 1987, ch. 1.

We shouldn't maltreat our idols: the gilt comes off on our hands.

Gustave Flaubert

Madame Bovary

Buy Madame Bovary at Amazon Buy Madame Bovary at Amazon
Read Madame Bovary at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Idols

Author

Gustave Flaubert

Source

Madame Bovary

Medium

Novel

Language

French

Time

1857 1850s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Flaubert, Gustave. Madame Bovary: Moeurs de Province [Madame Bovary: Provincial Manners]. Revue de Paris, 1 Oct. 1856 - 15 Dec. 1856. Serial.

Current Citation

Flaubert, Gustave. Madame Bovary, edited and translated by Lydia Davis. Penguin Classics, 2011, pt. 3, ch. 6.

To laugh is proper to man.

Francois Rabelais

Gargantua and Pantagruel

Read Gargantua and Pantagruel at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Laughter

Author

Francois Rabelais

Source

Gargantua and Pantagruel

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satirical fiction Satire

Language

French

Time

1534 1530s 16th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Rabelais, Francois [published as Alcofribas Nasier]. Les horribles et épouvantables faits et prouesses du très renommé Pantagruel Roi des Dipsodes, fils du Grand Géant Gargantua [The Horrible and Terrifying Deeds and Words of the Very Renowned Pantagruel King of the Dipsodes, Son of the Great Giant Gargantua]. Vol. 1, 1532, bk. 1, prefatory note.

Current Citation

Rabelais, Francois. Gargantua & Pantagruel. Dover Publications, 2016, bk. 1, prefatory note.

We know the truth, not only by the reason, but by the heart.

Blaise Pascal

Pensées

Buy Pensées at Amazon Buy Pensées at Amazon
Read Pensees at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Knowing the truth Truth Limits of reason Intuition

Author

Blaise Pascal

Source

Pensées

Medium

Epigram

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1670 1670s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Pascal, Blaise. Pensées [Thoughts]. Paris: Chez G. Desprez, 1670, no. 1.

Current Citation

Pascal, Blaise. "Pensées." Pensées and Other Writings, edited by Anthony Levi, translated by Honor Levi. Oxford University Press, 2008, no. 1.

The thirst after happiness is never extinguished in the heart of man.

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Confessions (Rousseau)

Buy Confessions at Amazon Buy Confessions at Amazon
Read Confessions at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Seeking happiness

Author

Jean-Jacques Rousseau

Source

Confessions (Rousseau)

Genre

Autobiography and memoir

Language

French

Time

1789 1780s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Les Confessions [The Confessions]. Aux Deux-Ponts: Chez Sanson Et Compagnie, 1789, bk. 9.

Current Citation

Rousseau, Jean-Jacques. Confessions, translated by Angela Scholar. Oxford University Press, 2008, pt. 2, bk. 9.

Let us give Nature a chance; she knows her business better than we do.

Michel de Montaigne

Essays

Buy the Essays at Amazon Buy the Essays at Amazon
Read the Essays at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature

Author

Michel de Montaigne

Source

Of Experience Essays

Medium

Essay

Language

French

Time

1580 1580s 16th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "De l'Experience [Of Experience]." Essais [Essays]. Paris: Simon Millanges and Jean Richer, 1580.

Current Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "On Experience." The Complete Essays, edited and translated by M. A. Screech. Penguin Classics, 1993.

Every revolutionary ends by becoming either an oppressor or a heretic.

Albert Camus

The Rebel

Buy The Rebel at Amazon Buy The Rebel at Amazon

More information about this quote

Topic

Revolutionaries Revolution Political theory Politics

Author

Albert Camus

Source

The Rebel

Medium

Essay

Genre

Philosophical literature Political literature

Language

French

Time

1951 1950s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Camus, Albert. L'Homme Revolte [The Rebel]. Gallimard, 1951.

I wish that every human life might be pure transparent freedom.

Simone de Beauvoir

The Blood of Others

More information about this quote

Topic

Liberation

Author

Simone de Beauvoir

Source

The Blood of Others

Medium

Novel

Statement Type

Wish

Language

French

Time

1945 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

De Beauvoir, Simone. Le Sang des autres [The Blood of Others]. Gallimard, 1945, ch. 5.

In general, the art of government consists in taking as much money as possible from one class of citizens to give to the other.

Voltaire

Philosophical Dictionary

Buy the Philosophical Dictionary at Amazon Buy the Philosophical Dictionary at Amazon
Read the Philosophical Dictionary at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

Purpose of government

Author

Voltaire

Source

Philosophical Dictionary

Genre

Philosophical literature

Language

French

Time

1764 1760s 18th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Voltaire. "Argent [Money]." Dictionnaire Philosophique [Philosophical Dictionary]. c. 1764.

Things are always at their best in their beginning.

Blaise Pascal

More information about this quote

Topic

Things get worse

Author

Blaise Pascal

Statement Type

Precepts and axioms

Language

French

Time

1656 1650s 17th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Pascal, Blaise [published as Louis de Montalte]. "February 25, 1656." Les Provinciales ou Les Lettres Escrites [The Provincial Letters]. c. 1657, letter 4.

In the desert there is all-and yet nothing…God is there and man is not.

Honoré de Balzac

La Comédie humaine

Read A Passion in the Desert at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

The desert

Author

Honoré de Balzac

Source

A Passion in the Desert La Comédie humaine

Medium

Novel

Language

French

Time

1830 1820s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

De Balzac, Honoré. "Une passion dans le desert [A Passion in the Desert]." Revue de Paris, 26 Dec. 1830.

They have all a lively faith in the perfectibility of man, they judge that the diffusion of knowledge must necessarily be advantageous, and the consequences of ignorance fatal; they all consider society as a body in a state of improvement, humanity as a changing scene, in which nothing is, or ought to be, permanent; and they admit that what appears to them today to be good, may be superseded by something better tomorrow.

Alexis de Tocqueville

Democracy in America

On Americans.

Buy Democracy in America at Amazon Buy Democracy in America at Amazon
Read Democracy in America, vol. 1 at Project Gutenberg

More information about this quote

Topic

American character Americans

Author

Alexis de Tocqueville

Source

Democracy in America

Genre

Political literature

Language

French

Time

1835 1830s 19th century

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Tocqueville, Alexis De. De La Democratie en Amerique [Democracy in America]. Vol. 1, London: Saunders and Otley, 1835, ch. 18, pt. 6.

Current Citation

Tocqueville, Alexis De. Democracy in America: The Complete and Unabridged Volumes I and II, translated by Henry Reeve. Bantam Classics, 2000, vol. 1, ch. 18, pt. 6.