Jean-Baptiste Poquelin (1622–73,) known by his stage name Molière, was a French playwright and actor who is considered the creator of modern French comedy.
Born Jean-Baptiste Poquelin in Paris, Molière declined to join his father’s carpet and upholstery business as a young man. He fled with an actress and her family’s wandering theater troupe. They toured all around the provinces with great success, but kept away from Paris; Molière had been previously imprisoned there for large debts for which he became responsible. When they did return to Paris eventually, Molière tried to win the king’s favor by presenting a tragedy, but Molière received bad reviews for his acting.
Molière found success only when he performed his short farce, Love Is the Doctor. King Louis XIV became a champion of Molière’s work, and even performed as a ballet dancer in one of them.
Molière’s popular plays include the original stage comedies The School for Wives (1662,) Don Juan (1665,) Tartuffe (1666,) The Misanthrope (1666,) The Miser (1668,) The Bourgeois Gentleman (1670,) and The Imaginary Invalid (1673.)
Molière’s works gained widespread success with the public, even if they were criticized by conservative reviewers, the Catholic church, and medical professionals. Other playwrights and theater troupes copied his theatrical style in France and England.
The French national theater, the Comédie-Française, has been popularly known as “La Maison de Molière” (The House of Molière.)
More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Moliere
Every good act is charity. A man’s true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.
—Moliere
Topics: Charity
Men are alike in their promises. It is only in their deeds that they differ.
—Moliere
Topics: Getting Going, Inaction, Procrastination
The more we love our friends, the less we flatter them; it is by excusing nothing that pure love shows itself.
—Moliere
Topics: Friendship, Flattery
Virtue is the first title of nobility.
—Moliere
Topics: Titles
Of all follies there is none greater than wanting to make the world a better place.
—Moliere
Topics: Correction, Reform
It is not only what we do, but also what we do not do for which we are accountable.
—Moliere
Topics: Sin, Doing, Responsibility
If everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless, since their chief purpose is to make us bear with patience the injustice of our fellows.
—Moliere
The proof of true love is to be unsparing in criticism.
—Moliere
Topics: Romance
One ought to look a good deal at oneself before thinking of condemning others.
—Moliere
Topics: Criticism, Thinking, Critics, Hypocrisy
A wise man is superior to any insults which can be put upon him, and the best reply to unseemly behavior is patience and moderation.
—Moliere
Everyone has a right to his own course of action.
—Moliere
The greater the obstacle, the more glory we have in overcoming it; the difficulties with which we are met are the maids of honor which set off virtue.
—Moliere
Topics: Obstacles, Difficulty, One liners, Risk, Difficulties, Adversity
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