Great Throughts Treasury

This site is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Alan William Smolowe who gave birth to the creation of this database.

Pierre Beaumarchais, fully Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais

French Playwright, Watchmaker, Inventor, Musician, Diplomat, Fugitive, Spy, Publisher, Arms Dealer, as well as French and American Revolutionary best known for Le Barbier de Séville, Le Mariage de Figaro and La Mère coupable

"We drink without being thirsty and make love at any time; that is all that distinguishes us from other animals."

"A great man is doing you enough good when he isn't doing you harm. "

"As long as I don't write about the government, religion, politics, and other institutions, I am free to print anything."

"Because you are a great lord, you believe yourself to be a great genius! . . . You took the trouble to be born, but no more."

"Can love and peace live in the same heart? Youth is unhappy because it is faced with this terrible choice: Love without peace, or peace without love."

"I grant men the land, the government, the wealth, all the chances. I accept that you have to hold all the cards, since that's the only way you know how to play; but I refuse to swallow your disrespect."

"If a thing isn't worth saying, you sing it."

"I quickly laugh at everything for fear of having to cry. "

"It is not necessary to understand things in order to argue about them."

"Only one thing to it: a strong stomach. The guts to gladhand a man you're going to stab in the back; pledge allegiance to principles you stomp on every day; righteously denounce some despot in the press and sell him arms under the table. The talent to whip up the voters' worst passions while you seem to call on their highest instincts, and the sense to stay wrapped in the flag. That's politics: I'll take the simple life. "

"It's your world, but I make my way in it. At fifteen, no, I couldn't stand up to you. The age of illusions, when we know nothing, we hope for everything; we're wandering in a mist ... And the half of the world that's never had any use for us, suddenly is besieging us. You need us, you adore us, you're suffering for us. You want everything--except to know what we think. You look deep in our eyes--and put your hand up our dress. You call us, Pretty thing. That confuses us. The most beautiful woman, the highest ranked, lives half dazzled by constant attention, half stifled by obvious contempt. We think all we're good for is pleasing you--till one day, long acquaintance with you dispels the last mist. In a clear light, we suddenly see you as you are--and generally we start preferring ourselves. At thirty, I could finally say no--or really say yes. That's when you begin backing away from us. Now I'm full-grown. I pursue my happiness the same as any man. "

"Be commonplace and creeping, any you attain all things."

"Drinking, when we are not thirsty and making love all year round, madam; that is all there is to distinguish us from other animals."

"Everything ends with songs."

"Calumniate, calumniate; there will always be something which sticks."

"If censorship reigns, there cannot be sincere flattery, and only small men are afraid of small writings."

"It is by no means necessary to understand things to speak confidently about them."

"Honest men love women; those who deceive them adore them."

"The same wind that extinguishes a light can set a brazier on fire."

"These days what's not worth saying gets set to music."

"To make a living, craftiness is better than learnedness."

"It is not necessary to retain facts that we may reason concerning them."

"I force myself to laugh at everything, for fear of having to cry."

"I hasten to laugh at everything, for fear of being obliged to weep."

"Nature says to a woman: 'Be beautiful if you can, wise if you want to, but be respected, that is essential.'"

"Nowadays what isn't worth saying is sung."

"Of all serious things, marriage is the most ludicrous."

"That which is not worth speaking they sing."

"Vilify, Vilify, some of it will always stick."

"Where love is concerned, too much is not even enough."

"What silly people wits are!"

"Without pleasure man would live like a fool and soon die."