“ Our social life demands a pliant virtue; Too strict uprightness may be blameworthy ”
Molière, The Misanthrope (1666). copy citation
| Author | Molière |
|---|---|
| Source | The Misanthrope |
| Topic | virtue life |
| Date | 1666 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Curtis Hidden Page |
| Weblink | https://en.wikisource.org/wiki/The_Misanthrope_(Molière) |
Context
“To flee from all mankind, and live in deserts.
PHILINTE
Don't take the manners of the time so hard!
Be a bit merciful to human nature;
Let us not judge it with the utmost rigour,
But look upon its faults with some indulgence.
Our social life demands a pliant virtue;
Too strict uprightness may be blameworthy;
Sound judgment always will avoid extremes,
And will be sober even in its virtue.
The stiff unbending morals of old times
Clash with our modern age and common usage;
They ask of mortal men too much perfection;”
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