Jean Racine Quotes

I have pushed virtue to outright brutality.

He who bridles the fury of the billows knows also to put a stop to the secret plans of the wicked. Submitting with respect to His holy will, I fear God, and have no other fear.

Felicity is in possession, happiness in anticipation.

Love is not dumb. The heart speaks many ways.

The glory of my name increases my shame. Less known by mortals, I could better escape their eyes.

Twas easier to disarm the god of strength
Than this Hippolytus, for Hercules
Yielded so often to the eyes of beauty,
As to make triumph cheap.
― Jean Racine, Phèdre

Now my innocence begins to weigh me down.

And forever goodbye! Forever! Oh, Sir, can you imagine how dreadful this cruel word sounds when one loves?

Too much virtue can be criminal.

Sir, that much prudence calls for too much worry; I cannot foresee misfortunes so far away.

Do not they bring it to pass by knowing that they know nothing at all?

Small crimes always precedes great ones.

I can hear those glances that you think are silent.

I will die if I lose you, but I will die if I wait longer.

I know the disposition of women: when you will, they won't; when you won't, they set their hearts upon you of their own inclination.

Without money honor is merely a disease.

Justice in the extreme is often unjust.

Extreme justice is often injustice.

Henceforth the majesty of God revere;Fear Him, and you have nothing else to fear.

A noble heart cannot suspect in others the pettiness and malice that it has never felt.

The quarrels of lovers are the renewal of love.

According as the man is, so must you humour him.

Many a time a man cannot be such as he would be, if circumstances do not admit of it.

There are no secrets that time does not reveal.

Do you think you can be righteous and holy with impunity?

Wrinkles on the brow are the imprints of exploits.

If I could believe that this was said sincerely, I could put up with anything.

The face of tyranny Is always mild at first.

He who laughs on Friday will weep on Sunday.

Hippolytus can feel, and feels nothing for me!

Sun, I come to see you for the last time.

He who ruleth the raging of the sea, knows also how to check the designs of the ungodly. I submit myself with reverence to His Holy Will. O Abner, I fear my God, and I fear none but Him.

The heart that can no longer love passionately must with fury hate.

Behind a veil, unseen yet present, I was the forceful soul that moved this mighty body.

Often it is fatal to live too long.

There may be guilt when there is too much virtue.

Innocence has nothing to dread.

There is nothing so easy but that it becomes difficult when you do it with reluctance.

A tragedy need not have blood and death; it's enough that it all be filled with that majestic sadness that is the pleasure of tragedy.

I felt for my crime a just terror; I looked on my life with hate, and my passion with horror.

My only hope lies in my despair.

You feign guilt in order to justify yourself.

I have loved him too much not to hate

It behooves a prudent person to make trial of everything before arms.

Crime like virtue has its degrees; and timid innocence was never known to blossom suddenly into extreme license.

Hell, covering all with its gloomy vapors, has cast shadows on even the holiest eyes.

And do you count for nothing God who fights for us?

Can a faith that does nothing be called sincere?

Life is a comedy to those who think, a tragedy to those who feel.

The faith that acts not, is it truly faith?

When I'm carried away, isn't it clear that my heart contradicts my mouth?

A single word often betrays a great design.

The feeling of mistrust is always the last which a great mind acquires.

Pain is unjust, and all the arguments That cannot soothe it only rouse suspicion.

Have there ever been more submissive slaves? Adoring, even in their irons, the God who punishes them.

Disagreeable suspicions are usually the fruits of a second marriage.

The joys of the evil flow away like a torrent.

Is a faith without action a sincere faith?

Crime, like virtue, has its degrees.

How admirable and beautiful is the simplicity of the Evangelists! They never speak injuriously of the enemies of Jesus Christ, of His judges, nor of His executioners. They report the facts without a single reflection. They comment neither on their Master's mildness when He was smitten, nor on His constancy in the hour of His ignominious death, which they thus describe: And they crucified Jesus.

To repair the irreparable ravages of time.

A benefit cited by way of reproach is equivalent to an injury.

Les te moins sont fort chers, et n'en a pas qui veut. Witnesses are expensive and not everyone can afford them.

My death, taking the light from my eyes, gives back to the day the purity which they soiled.

I have everything, yet have nothing; and although I possess nothing, still of nothing am I in want.

How good is God! How sweet his yoke!