It is human nature to think wisely and act foolishly.
—Anatole France
Topics: Human Nature, Humanity, Wisdom
When a thing has been said and said well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it.
—Anatole France
Topics: Plagiarism
When a thing has been said and said well, have no scruple. Take it and copy it.
—Anatole France
The finest words in the world are only vain sounds, if you cannot comprehend them.
—Anatole France
Topics: Words
Nine tenths of education is encouragement.
—Anatole France
Topics: Encouragement, Education
It is not customary to love what one has.
—Anatole France
Topics: Blessings, Gratitude, Appreciation
Our passions are ourselves.
—Anatole France
Topics: Enthusiasm, Passion
If fifty million people say a foolish thing, it is still a foolish thing.
—Anatole France
Topics: Fools, Foolishness
To imagine is everything, to know is nothing at all.
—Anatole France
Topics: Imagination
The law, in its majestic equality, forbids the rich as well as the poor to sleep under bridges, to beg in the streets, and to steal bread.
—Anatole France
Topics: Laws, Wealth, Rain, Justice
The future is a convenient place for dreams.
—Anatole France
Topics: Dreams, Future
The greatest virtue of man is perhaps curiosity.
—Anatole France
Topics: Virtue, Curiosity
Cicero was in politics a moderate of the most violent description.
—Anatole France
Topics: Politics
The men are included in the eight million dollars.
—Anatole France
Topics: War
It is well for the heart to be naive and for the mind not to be.
—Anatole France
Topics: Knowledge, Innocence
Do not try to satisfy your vanity by teaching a great many things. Awakened people’s curiosity. It is enough to open minds; do not overload them. Put there just a spark. If there is some good flammable stuff, it will catch fire.
—Anatole France
Topics: Wilderness
The duty of literature is to note what counts, and to light up what is suited to the light. If it ceases to choose and to love, it becomes like a woman who gives herself without preference.
—Anatole France
Topics: Literature
Suffering! We owe to it all that is good in us, all that gives value to life; we owe to it pity, we owe to it courage, we owe to it all the virtues.
—Anatole France
Topics: Adversity, Difficulties
Only men who are not interested in women are interested in women’s clothes. Men who like women never notice what they wear.
—Anatole France
Topics: Fashion
The good critic is he who relates the adventures of his soul among masterpieces.
—Anatole France
Topics: Criticism, Critics
The Sciences are beneficent. They prevent men from thinking.
—Anatole France
Topics: Science
Lovers who love truly do not write down their happiness.
—Anatole France
Topics: Lovers, Love
People who have no weaknesses are terrible; there is no way of taking advantage of them.
—Anatole France
Topics: Weakness
It is in the ability to deceive oneself that the greatest talent is shown.
—Anatole France
Topics: Talent, Deception
Time deals gently only with those who take it gently.
—Anatole France
Topics: Patience, Resilience
Night has come! Leaning from the window, we gaze at the vast sombre stretch of the city below us, pierced with multitudinous points of light. Jeanne presses her hand to her forehead as she leans upon the window-bar, and seems a little sad. And I say to myself as I watch her: All changes, even the most longed for, have their melancholy; for what we leave behind us is a part of ourselves: we must die in one life before we can enter into another!
And as if answering my thought, the young girl murmurs to me.
My guardian, I am so happy; and still I feel as if I wanted to cry!
—Anatole France
Topics: Change
A person is never happy except at the price of some ignorance.
—Anatole France
Topics: Ignorance, Defects
The average man does not know what to do with this life, yet wants another one which will last forever.
—Anatole France
Topics: Greed
I cling to my imperfection, as the very essence of my being.
—Anatole France
Topics: Perfection
What frightens us most in a madman is his sane conversation.
—Anatole France
Topics: Sanity
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Jean Cocteau French Poet, Artist
- Voltaire French Philosopher, Author
- Victor Hugo French Novelist
- Andre Gide French Novelist
- Michel Houellebecq French Author
- Gustave Flaubert French Novelist
- Guy de Maupassant French Short-story Writer
- Remy de Gourmont French Poet, Writer
- Marcel Proust French Novelist
- Jean-Paul Sartre French Philosopher
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