“ Men should not dispute amongst themselves about vainglory and rank; that which perfectly distinguishes one from the other is wisdom and virtue. ”
Molière, The Bourgeois Gentleman (1670). copy citation
| Author | Molière |
|---|---|
| Source | The Bourgeois Gentleman |
| Topic | wisdom virtue |
| Date | 1670 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Philip Dwight Jones |
| Weblink | https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Middle-Class_Gentleman |
Context
“and the grand reply one should make to such outrages is moderation and patience.
FENCING MASTER: They both had the audacity of trying to compare their professions with mine.
PHILOSOPHY MASTER: Should that disturb you? Men should not dispute amongst themselves about vainglory and rank; that which perfectly distinguishes one from the other is wisdom and virtue.
DANCING MASTER: I insist to him that dance is a science to which one cannot do enough honor.
MUSIC MASTER: And I, that music is something that all the ages have revered.
FENCING MASTER: And I insist to them that the science of fencing is the finest and the most necessary of all sciences.”
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