He gains everyone's approval who mixes the pleasant with the useful.
The disgrace of others often keeps tender minds from vice.
He has the deed half done who has made a beginning.
Strange - is it not? That of the myriads who Before us passed the door of Darkness through, Not one returns to tell us of the road Which to discover we must travel too.
The man is either mad, or he is making verses.
It is when I struggle to be brief that I become obscure.
To have a great man for a friend seems pleasant to those who have never tried it; those who have, fear it.
I never think at all when I write. Nobody can do two things at the same time and do them both well.
This is a fault common to all singers, that among their friends they will never sing when they are asked; unasked, they will never desist.
If a man's fortune does not fit him, it is like the shoe in the story; if too large it trips him up, if too small it pinches him.
No poems can please for long or live that are written by water drinkers.
I put up with a great deal to pacify the touchy tribe of poets.
The poet must put on the passion he wants to represent.
The man is either mad or his is making verses. [Lat., Aut insanit homo, aut versus facit.]
Poets, the first instructors of mankind, Brought all things to the proper native use.
If you rank me with the lyric poets, my exalted head shall strike the stars. [Lat., Quod si me lyricis vatibus inseris, Sublimi feriam sidera vertice.]
Neither men, nor gods, nor booksellers' shelves permit ordinary poets to exist. [Lat., Mediocribus esse poetis Non homines, non di, non concessere columnae.]
Mediocrity is not allowed to poets, either by the gods or men.
Every old poem is sacred.
Poets wish to profit or to please.
"Painters and poets," you say, "have always had an equal license in bold invention." We know; we claim the liberty for ourselves and in turn we give it to others.
The fellow is either a madman or a poet.
I have to submit to much in order to pacify the touchy tribe of poets.
That I make poetry and give pleasure - if I give pleasure - are because of you.
Not gods, nor men, nor even booksellers have put up with poets' being second-rate.
Painters and poets alike have always had license to dare anything! We know that, and we both claim and allow to others in their turn this indulgence.
Mediocrity in poets has never been tolerated by either men, or gods, or booksellers.
Verses devoid of substance, melodious trifles. [Lat., Versus inopes rerum, nugaeque canorae.]
A comic matter cannot be expressed in tragic verse. [Lat., Versibus exponi tragicis res comica non vult.]
Limbs of a dismembered poet.
Let your poem be kept nine years.
Where there are many beauties in a poem I shall not cavil at a few faults proceeding either from negligence or from the imperfection of our nature.
It is not enough that poetry is agreeable, it should also be interesting.
Poets are never allowed to be mediocre by the gods, by men or by publishers.
Begin, be bold and venture to be wise.
I strive to be brief but I become obscure.
He who postpones the hour of living is like the rustic who waits for the river to run out before he crosses.
In labouring to be concise, I become obscure.
He who would begun has half done. Dare to be wise; begin.
Your own safety is at stake when your neighbor's wall is ablaze.
Painters and poets have equal license in regard to everything.
And take back ill-polished stanzas to the anvil.
The power of daring anything their fancy suggest, as always been conceded to the painter and the poet.
Who then is free? The wise man who can command himself.
Cease to inquire what the future has in store, and take as a gift whatever the day brings forth.