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
Our minds need relaxation and give way
Unless we mix with work a little play.
—Moliere
It is a fine seasoning for joy to think of those we love.
—Moliere
Topics: Joy
Without knowledge, life is not more than the shadow of death.
—Moliere
Topics: Knowledge
There is no praise to beat the sort you can put in your pocket.
—Moliere
Topics: Praise
Haste is not always speed. We must learn to work and wait. This is like God, who perfects his works through beautiful gradations.
—Moliere
Topics: Haste
To find oneself jilted is a blow to one’s pride. One must do one’s best to forget it and if one doesn’t succeed, at least one must pretend to.
—Moliere
Topics: Pride
Men are alike in their promises. It is only in their deeds that they differ.
—Moliere
Topics: Procrastination, Inaction, Getting Going
It is not only for what we do that we are held responsible, but also for what we do not do.
—Moliere
Topics: Doing Your Best
We often marry in despair, so that we repent of it all our life after.
—Moliere
Topics: Marriage
A learned fool is more foolish than an ignorant one.
—Moliere
Topics: Foolishness, Fools
Consistency is only suitable for ridicule.
—Moliere
Topics: Change, Consistency
Birth is nothing where virtue is not.
—Moliere
Topics: Ancestry
We should conform to the manners of the greater number, and so behave as not to draw attention to ourselves.—Excess either way shocks, and every wise man should attend to this in his dress as well as language; never be affected in anything, but follow, without being in too great haste, the changes of fashion.
—Moliere
Topics: Fashion
An erudite fool is a greater fool than an ignorant fool.
—Moliere
Topics: Fools
The less we deserve good fortune, the more we hope for it.
—Moliere
Topics: Fortune, Fate
Hypocrisy is a fashionable vice, and all fashionable vices pass for virtue
—Moliere
Topics: Hypocrisy, Fashion
Books and marriage go ill together.
—Moliere
Topics: Books, Reading
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
Unbroken happiness is a bore: It should have ups and downs.
—Moliere
Topics: Happiness
Love is often the fruit of marriage.
—Moliere
Topics: Marriage
Doubts are more cruel than the worst of truths.
—Moliere
Topics: Doubt
Virtue is the first title of nobility.
—Moliere
Topics: Titles
It is the public scandal that offends; to sin in secret is no sin at all.
—Moliere
Topics: Shame
The most agreeable recompense which we can receive for things which we have done is to see them known, to have them applauded with praises which honor us.
—Moliere
Topics: Praise
Gold makes the ugly beautiful.
—Moliere
Topics: Gold
The art of flatterers is to take advantage of the foibles of the great, to foster their errors, and never to give advice which may annoy.
—Moliere
Topics: Flattery
He must have killed a lot of men to have made so much money.
—Moliere
Topics: Wealth, Riches
The proof of true love is to be unsparing in criticism.
—Moliere
Topics: Romance
Of all follies there is none greater than wanting to make the world a better place.
—Moliere
Topics: Correction, Reform
The impromptu reply is precisely the touchstone of the man of wit.
—Moliere
Topics: Wit
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