Pierre Corneille Quotes

Powerful Pierre Corneille for Daily Growth

About Pierre Corneille

Pierre Corneille (1606-1684) was a prominent French dramatist, often referred to as one of the founders of classical French tragedy. Born on December 6, 1606, in Rouen, Normandy, he was the son of a notary and a niece of the famous playwright, Guillaume Corneille. Corneille received his education at the Jesuit College Louis-le-Grand in Paris before leaving for military service with his father. However, his passion lay in literature. His first play, Mélite, was performed in 1634 but met with criticism due to its deviation from classical rules. In 1636, Corneille wrote Le Cid, a story of a Spanish nobleman torn between love and duty, which brought him both acclaim and controversy. The play broke away from the traditional rules established by his contemporaries and marked the beginning of French classicism in drama. His next significant work, Horace (1640), was based on the Roman poet Horace and explored themes of integrity and ambition. Corneille's later years were marked by political intrigue and censorship. His play, The Illusion (1643), was banned due to its perceived criticism of Cardinal Richelieu. In 1652, he moved to Rouen and focused on history plays such as Nicomede (1652) and Sertorius (1653). Corneille's works have had a lasting impact on French literature and drama. His innovative approach to storytelling and character development has influenced generations of writers, including Molière, Racine, and Voltaire. Pierre Corneille passed away in Rouen on October 1, 1684. His legacy continues to inspire artists and scholars alike.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"He who never changes his mind, cannot be perfect."

This quote by Pierre Corneille emphasizes the importance of being adaptable and open-minded in personal growth and development. To maintain perfection, it's essential to reconsider opinions, beliefs, and strategies when circumstances change or new information arises. Stubbornness can lead to stagnation, while flexibility leads to improvement and progress.


"The gods help them that help themselves."

This quote suggests that success or good fortune is often the result of self-reliance and personal effort, rather than relying solely on divine intervention or external aid. In other words, one should take responsibility for their own actions and strive towards their goals actively, as help from the gods (or fate) is more likely to come to those who make an effort and help themselves first.


"Action is the lifeblood of fame."

Pierre Corneille's quote "Action is the lifeblood of fame" implies that actions, not idle talk or inactivity, are essential for achieving renown or recognition. In other words, a person's deeds and accomplishments are what create their reputation or status, much like how blood flows through the body to sustain life. To gain fame, one must take action, make meaningful contributions, and strive towards significant achievements.


"A man's true character is unveiled in the choice he makes between comfort and courage."

This quote by Pierre Corneille underscores the importance of personal values and integrity in the face of choices that involve comfort or courage. In making such decisions, a person's true nature—their inner strength, convictions, and moral compass—becomes apparent. Choosing comfort may indicate a preference for safety or ease at the expense of principle, while choosing courage suggests a commitment to one's values, even in challenging circumstances. The choice between these two paths reveals not just what a person desires but also what they truly believe in, thus shaping their character and identity.


"It is better to risk everything for something than nothing for nothing." - This quote is often attributed to Corneille, but it's also associated with Eric Hoffer.

The quote emphasizes the importance of taking risks and pursuing meaningful endeavors rather than settling for inaction or emptiness. It suggests that the potential loss or risk involved in striving for something worthwhile is preferable to living a life without purpose or accomplishment. This sentiment is shared by both Pierre Corneille and Eric Hoffer, who advocate for courageous action towards personal growth and making a positive impact on the world.


Self-love is the source of all our other loves.

- Pierre Corneille

Love, Self-Love, Other, Source

Treachery is noble when aimed at tyranny.

- Pierre Corneille

Tyranny, Noble, Treachery

An example is often a deceptive mirror, and the order of destiny, so troubling to our thoughts, is not always found written in things past.

- Pierre Corneille

Destiny, Thoughts, Always, Deceptive

Love is a tyrant sparing none.

- Pierre Corneille

Love, Tyrant, None, Sparing

When the patient loves his disease, how unwilling he is to allow a remedy to be applied.

- Pierre Corneille

How, Allow, His, Remedy

A liar is always lavish of oaths.

- Pierre Corneille

Always, Lavish, Oaths, Liar

A good memory is needed after one has lied.

- Pierre Corneille

Memory, Needed, After, Good Memory

It takes good memory to keep up a lie.

- Pierre Corneille

Memory, Lie, Keep, Good Memory

One ought to have a good memory when he has told a lie.

- Pierre Corneille

Good, Memory, Lie, Good Memory

He who can live in infamy is unworthy of life.

- Pierre Corneille

Live, Unworthy, He, Infamy

In recounting our woes, we often soothe them.

- Pierre Corneille

Often, Them, Woes, Soothe

He who plays advisor is no longer ambassador.

- Pierre Corneille

Longer, Advisor, Plays, Ambassador

Clemency is the noblest trait which can reveal a true monarch to the world.

- Pierre Corneille

World, Reveal, Which, Noblest

We never taste happiness in perfection, our most fortunate successes are mixed with sadness.

- Pierre Corneille

Sad, Never, Most, Perfection

A first impulse was never a crime.

- Pierre Corneille

Never, Crime, First, Impulse

True, I am young, but for souls nobly born valor doesn't await the passing of years.

- Pierre Corneille

Born, Young, Souls, Nobly

Deceit is the game of petty spirits, and that is by nature a woman's quality.

- Pierre Corneille

Nature, Woman, Game, Deceit

Oh rage! Oh despair! Oh age, my enemy!

- Pierre Corneille

Age, Rage, Oh, Despair

My reason, it's true, controls my feelings, but whatever its authority, it doesn't rule them so much as tyrannize them.

- Pierre Corneille

Reason, Controls, Rule, Feelings

I have deserved neither so much honor or so much disgrace.

- Pierre Corneille

Honor, Disgrace, Neither, Deserved

After having won a scepter, few are so generous as to disdain the pleasures of ruling.

- Pierre Corneille

Pleasures, Ruling, Having, Disdain

My sweetest hope is to lose hope.

- Pierre Corneille

Hope, Lose, Sweetest

To take revenge halfheartedly is to court disaster; either condemn or crown your hatred.

- Pierre Corneille

Hatred, Either, Take, Disaster

Alas, I emerge from one disaster to fall into a worse.

- Pierre Corneille

Fall, Alas, Emerge, Disaster

Peace is produced by war.

- Pierre Corneille

Peace, War, Produced

I don't know how to defend myself: surprised innocence cannot imagine being under suspicion.

- Pierre Corneille

Myself, Innocence, Imagine, Surprised

One often calms one's grief by recounting it.

- Pierre Corneille

Sympathy, Often, Calms, Grief

In the service of Caesar, everything is legitimate.

- Pierre Corneille

Service, Legitimate, Caesar

He who forgives readily only invites offense.

- Pierre Corneille

Offense, Readily, Forgives, Invites

He who pardons easily invites offense.

- Pierre Corneille

Offense, He, Easily, Invites

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