Nicolas Boileau-Despreaux Men Quotations

The wisest man is he who does not fancy that he is so at all.

Of all the creatures that creep, swim, or fly, Peopling the earth, the waters, and the sky, From Rome to Iceland, Paris to Japan, I really think the greatest fool is man.

All men are fools, and with every effort they differ only in the degree.

Time flies and draws us with it. The moment in which I am speaking is already far from me.

Of all the animals which fly in the air, walk on the land, or swim in the sea, from Paris to Peru, from Japan to Rome, the most foolish animal in my opinion is man.