Corneille Quotes

Ambition, having reached the summit, longs to descend.

Here honor binds me, and I wish to satisfy it.

Guess if you can, choose if you dare.

As our self-interests differ, so do our feelings.

One ought to have a good memory when he has told a lie

The fire which seems extinguished often slumbers beneath the ashes.

Every man of courage is a man of his word.

He who allows me to rule is in fact my master

I am young, it is true; but in noble souls valor does not wait for years.

As great as kings may be, they are what we are: they can err like other men.

Have others fear you, and I will have no fear.

The universe has no prince or king that it [Rome] would consider equal to its humblest citizen.

My sweetest hope is to lose hope

If anyone wants to know what elephants are like, they are like people only more so.

Your heart is mine; there I reign. I am content.

I would not like a king who could obey.

I don't know how to defend myself: surprised innocence cannot imagine being under suspicion.

Among wellborn spirits courage does not depend on age.

Each instant of life is a step toward death.

It is hard to hate what one has loved, and a half-extinguished fire is soon relit.

He who fears not death fears not a threat.

They who overcome their desires once can overcome them always.

The greater the risk, the sweeter the fruit.

Every brave man is a man of his word; to such base vices he cannot stoop, and shuns more than death the shame of lying.

Those who easily forgive invite offenses.

Ambition displeases when it has been sated ... having reached the peak, it aspires to descend.

It is the guilt, not the scaffold, which constitutes the shame.

Violence is just, where kindness is vain.

I would tell you I love you, Sir, if I knew what it was to love.

It is an imprudence common to kings to listen to too much advice and to err in their choice.

Ah, though a Roman, I am not less a man.

All great virtues become great men. [Fr., Toutes grandes vertus conviennent aux grands hommes.]

When obedience is so impious, revolt is a necessity.

Happiness is meant to be shared.

I love you much less than my God, but much more than myself.

Heaven absolves all crimes committed to gain a throne Once Heaven gives it to us.

Be it only for a day, it is still a glory without equal to be master of the world just that day.

It is the gift of heaven and not of reason.

The king, just and prudent, wants only those things which he can get.

I am master of myself as of the universe, so I am; so I wish to be.

It is only blood that can wash away such an outrage; die or kill.

Your arm is unvanquished, but not invincible.

Rome is no longer in Rome, it is here where I am.

Happiness seems made to be shared. [Fr., Le bonheur semble fait pour etre partage.]

He on whom heaven confers a sceptre knows not the weight till he bears it.

He should be envied Who when his strength is spent lays down his life. Old age reserves a melancholy fate For noble souls before their life is done.

Rome alone can resist Rome.

It takes good memory to keep up a lie

I am Roman, alas, because Horace is Roman.

Sir, what does it matter whom I serve, so long as I am right?