Pierre Corneille quotes:

We never taste happiness in perfection, our most fortunate successes are mixed with sadness.

Self-love is the source of all our other loves.

Flee an enemy who knows your weakness.

When there is no peril in the fight there is no glory in the triumph.

Clemency is the surest proof of a true monarch. [Fr., La clemence est la plus belle marque Qui fasse a l'univers connaitre un vrai monqrque.]

He who does not fear death cares naught for threats.

One half of my life has put the other half in the grave.

Deceit is the game of petty spirits, and that is by nature a woman's quality.

Reason and love are sworn enemies.

I agree to, or rather aspire to, my doom.

Clemency is the noblest trait which can reveal a true monarch to the world.

Every man of courage is a man of his word.

To die for one's country is such a worthy fate that all compete for so beautiful a death.

Ambition aspires to descend.

Brave men are brave from the very first.

A good memory is needed after one has lied.

This dark brightness that falls from the stars.

The worst of all States is the democratic State.

When the patient loves his disease, how unwilling he is to allow a remedy to be applied.

It takes good memory to keep up a lie.

He who plays advisor is no longer ambassador.

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

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

We triumph without glory when we conquer without danger.

And the combat ceased, for want of combatants.

My sweetest hope is to lose hope.

The manner of giving is worth more than the gift.

One is often guilty by being too just.

My reason, it's true, controls my feelings, but whatever its authority, it doesn't rule them so much as tyrannize them.

Va, je ne te hais point.

To take revenge halfheartedly is to court disaster; either condemn or crown your hatred.

An example is often a deceptive mirror, and the order of destiny, so troubling to our thoughts, is not always found written in things past

After having won a scepter, few are so generous as to disdain the pleasures of ruling.

It is the crime not the scaffold which is the disgrace.

I have deserved neither so much honor or so much disgrace.

Desire increases when fulfillment is postponed.

Severity is allowable where gentleness has no effect.

The greater the effort, the greater the glory.

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

He who can live in infamy is unworthy of life

He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be.

A liar is always lavish of oaths.

The man who pardons easily courts injury.

These flattering mirrors reflect imperfectly what is within; the countenance is often a gay deceiver. What defects of mind lie hidden under its beauty! What fair exteriors conceal base souls!

As for our gods, we have a few too many to be true.

Master of the universe but not of myself, I am the only rebel against my absolute power.

Heaven often regulates effects by their causes, and pays the wicked what they have deserved.

To win without risk is to triumph without glory.

Laksanakanlah kewajiban anda sebaik-baiknya, selebihnya serahkan kepada Tuhan.

Pour grands que soient les rois, ils sont ce que nous sommes: Ils peuvent se tromper comme les autres hommes.

To vanquish without peril is to triumph without glory.

Love is a tyrant sparing none.

I can be forced to live without happiness, but I will never consent to live without honor.

The crime and not the scaffold makes the shame.

In recounting our woes, we often soothe them.

He who despises life is his life's master.

Danger breeds best on too much confidence.

How delicious is pleasure after torment!

Treachery is noble when aimed at tyranny.

He who has resolved to conquer or die is seldom conquered; such noble despair perishes with difficulty.

Just vengeance does not call for punishment.

He who pardons easily invites offense.

Force is legitimate where gentleness avails not.

True, I am young, but for souls nobly born valor doesn't await the passing of years.

One often calms one's grief by recounting it.

He who can live in infamy is unworthy of life.

We never taste a perfect joy; our happiest successes are mixed with sadness.

To he who avenges a father, nothing is impossible.

A true king is neither husband nor father; he considers his throne and nothing else.

An example is often a deceptive mirror, and the order of destiny, so troubling to our thoughts, is not always found written in things past.

He who forgives readily only invites offense.

It matters more how one gives than what one gives.

Happiness seems made to be shared.

The subject of a good tragedy must not be realistic.

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

A first impulse was never a crime.

A good memory is needed once we have lied. [Fr., Il faut bonne memoire apres qu'on a menti.]

A liar is full of oaths.

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

Alas, I emerge from one disaster to fall into a worse.

All evils are equal when they are extreme.

All evils are equal when they are extreme. [Fr., Et tous maux sont pareils alors qu'ils sont extremes.]

All great virtues become great men.

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

Ambition aspires to descend

Ambition becomes displeasing when it is once satiated; there is a reaction; and as our spirit, till our last sigh, is always aiming toward some object, it falls back on itself, having nothing else on which to rest; and having reached the summit, it longs to descend.

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

Ambition, having reached the summit, longs to descend.

Among wellborn spirits courage does not depend on age.

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

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

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

Brave men are brave from the very first. [Fr., Les hommes valeureux le sont au premier coup.]

By speaking of our misfortunes we often relieve them. [Fr., A raconter ses maux souvent on les soulage.]

Death was to be my glory, but destiny has refused it.

Do your duty and leave the rest to heaven.

Doubt, but still hate!

Each instant of life is a step toward death.

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.

For souls nobly born, valor doesn't await the passing of years

Generosity is the accompaniment of high birth; pity and gratitude are its attendants.

Good fortune leads one to the highest glory, But to renounce it calls for equal courage.

Guess if you can, choose if you dare.

Happiness is meant to be shared.

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

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

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.

He who allows himself to be insulted deserves to be so; and insolence, if unpunished, increases! [Lat., Qui se laisse outrager, merite qu'on l'outrage Et l'audace impunie enfle trop un courage.]

He who allows me to rule is in fact my master

He who fears not death fears not a threat.

He who is hated by all can not expect to live long.

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

How much must I overcome before I triumph?

I am Roman, alas, because Horace is Roman.

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

I believe everything to be just when a king ordains it.

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

I see, I know, I believe, I am undeceived.

I would not like a king who could obey.