Moliere Quotes

Powerful Moliere for Daily Growth

About Moliere

Molière (Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known by his stage name Molière) was a renowned French playwright, actor, and poet who significantly influenced the development of Western literature. Born on January 15, 1622, in Paris, France, Molière spent most of his life immersed in the world of theater. Molière's early life was filled with financial struggles and familial discord. After briefly studying law, he abandoned his studies to pursue a career in acting. In 1643, he co-founded the Illustre Théâtre, which later evolved into Le Troupe du Petit Bourgeois (The Company of Middling Folk). Throughout his career, Molière faced opposition from conservatives who disapproved of his bold and satirical works. However, he continued to push boundaries with plays such as "Les Faux Semblants" (1660), a critique of hypocrisy in the clergy; "L'École des Femmes" (1662); "Le Misanthrope" (1666); and his most famous work, "Tartuffe, ou l'Imposteur" (1664). Molière's plays were groundbreaking in their examination of societal norms, human nature, and the hypocrisy that permeated 17th-century French society. His works remain relevant today due to their sharp wit, timeless themes, and profound insights into human behavior. In his later years, Molière faced personal hardships, including financial difficulties and a failed love affair. However, he continued to write and perform until his sudden collapse during a performance of "Le Malade Imaginaire" (The Hypochondriac) on February 17, 1673. Molière passed away three days later at the age of 51. Today, Molière is celebrated as one of France's greatest playwrights and a seminal figure in world literature. His works continue to be performed worldwide, ensuring his enduring legacy.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"To learn to know oneself means to articulate and understand the self."

Molière's quote suggests that self-knowledge is a process of exploration, introspection, and understanding one's own thoughts, feelings, motivations, and characteristics. The act of "articulating" oneself implies expressing these aspects clearly and consciously. Thus, to learn to know oneself means not only being aware of oneself but also being able to communicate and make sense of that awareness. This understanding is crucial for personal growth, self-improvement, and building meaningful relationships with others.


"The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it."

This quote by Molière emphasizes the idea that great achievements are often associated with significant challenges. By facing and triumphing over seemingly insurmountable obstacles, one can earn a special kind of recognition, admiration, or pride, as they have demonstrated resilience, determination, and resourcefulness in the face of adversity. Overcoming obstacles isn't just about reaching the destination; it's about the personal growth, courage, and character that is developed along the way.


"The longer I live, the more I realize the impact of attitude on life. Attitude, to me, is more important than facts. It is more important than the past, the education, the money, than circumstances, than failure, than successes, than what other people think or say or do. It is more important than appearance, giftedness or skill. It will make or break a company... a church... a home."

Moliere's quote emphasizes the significant role of one's attitude in shaping their life experiences. He suggests that while factors such as education, money, past events, and external circumstances are important, they pale in comparison to an individual's attitude. In essence, Moliere argues that a positive or resilient attitude can overcome adversity and lead to success, regardless of the challenges one faces. He also implies that a negative or fixed mindset can hinder growth and limit potential, even in favorable situations. This idea is applicable not only on an individual level but also for organizations and communities as well. In summary, Moliere underscores the importance of cultivating a positive attitude as it has the power to influence one's journey through life and shape their overall experience.


"He who plows in hope will one day reap with joy."

Molière's quote, "He who plows in hope will one day reap with joy," encapsulates the essence of perseverance and optimism. It suggests that those who put forth effort and maintain faith in their endeavors will ultimately find success and happiness as a result of their labor. In other words, if you sow seeds (or invest time and energy) with hope for a positive outcome, you'll eventually experience the joy of reaping the fruits of your labor. This quote serves as an inspirational reminder that hard work, resilience, and faith in one's aspirations can lead to fulfillment and satisfaction.


"Man is naturally inclined to do evil and is obliged to become good."

Molière's quote suggests that humans have an inherent tendency towards wrongdoing, but it is our responsibility to strive for goodness and morality despite this inclination. It implies that we must consciously work on self-improvement and personal development to overcome our baser instincts and lead virtuous lives.


If everyone were clothed with integrity, if every heart were just, frank, kindly, the other virtues would be well-nigh useless.

- Moliere

Other, Everyone, Frank, Virtues

It is a strange enterprise to make respectable people laugh.

- Moliere

People, Enterprise, Make, Respectable

Oh, I may be devout, but I am human all the same.

- Moliere

I Am, Same, May, Devout

The trees that are slow to grow bear the best fruit.

- Moliere

Nature, Slow, Grow, Bear

True, Heaven prohibits certain pleasures; but one can generally negotiate a compromise.

- Moliere

True, Pleasures, Negotiate, Compromise

Every good act is charity. A man's true wealth hereafter is the good that he does in this world to his fellows.

- Moliere

Good, Wealth, Act, Hereafter

There's nothing quite like tobacco: it's the passion of decent folk, and whoever lives without tobacco doesn't deserve to live.

- Moliere

Deserve, Like, Lives, Tobacco

All the ills of mankind, all the tragic misfortunes that fill the history books, all the political blunders, all the failures of the great leaders have arisen merely from a lack of skill at dancing.

- Moliere

Dancing, Mankind, Failures, Tragic

As the purpose of comedy is to correct the vices of men, I see no reason why anyone should be exempt.

- Moliere

Purpose, Reason, Correct, Vices

If you make yourself understood, you're always speaking well.

- Moliere

Well, Always, Speaking, Understood

Don't appear so scholarly, pray. Humanize your talk, and speak to be understood.

- Moliere

Talk, Scholarly, Appear, Understood

One ought to look a good deal at oneself before thinking of condemning others.

- Moliere

Deal, Good Deal, Before, Condemning

There are pretenders to piety as well as to courage.

- Moliere

Courage, Well, Piety, Pretenders

The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it.

- Moliere

Great, More, Greater, Overcoming

All which is not prose is verse; and all which is not verse is prose.

- Moliere

Prose, Which, Verse

I have the knack of easing scruples.

- Moliere

Knack, Easing, Scruples

No matter what Aristotle and the Philosophers say, nothing is equal to tobacco; it's the passion of the well-bred, and he who lives without tobacco lives a life not worth living.

- Moliere

Living, Aristotle, Lives, Philosophers

Perfect reason flees all extremity, and leads one to be wise with sobriety.

- Moliere

Wise, Reason, Sobriety, Extremity

The duty of comedy is to correct men by amusing them.

- Moliere

Humor, Comedy, Correct, Amusing

Solitude terrifies the soul at twenty.

- Moliere

Soul, Twenty, Solitude

I want to be distinguished from the rest; to tell the truth, a friend to all mankind is not a friend for me.

- Moliere

Truth, Rest, Mankind, Distinguished

Frenchmen have an unlimited capacity for gallantry and indulge it on every occasion.

- Moliere

Occasion, Frenchmen, Every, Indulge

He who follows his lessons tastes a profound peace, and looks upon everybody as a bunch of manure.

- Moliere

Everybody, Tastes, Manure, Lessons

People don't mind being mean; but they never want to be ridiculous.

- Moliere

Mind, Never, Ridiculous, Being Mean

Unreasonable haste is the direct road to error.

- Moliere

Road, Unreasonable, Direct, Haste

Ah! how annoying that the law doesn't allow a woman to change husbands just as one does shirts.

- Moliere

Woman, Law, Allow, Annoying

I prefer a pleasant vice to an annoying virtue.

- Moliere

Vice, Prefer, Pleasant, Annoying

Love is often the fruit of marriage.

- Moliere

Love, Marriage, Fruit, Love Is

If you suppress grief too much, it can well redouble.

- Moliere

Sympathy, Well, Too, Grief

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

Wisdom, Insults, Which, Reply

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