My friend Sandi in Charleston is a book collector. Her house is full of books, old and new, from floor to ceiling. She's started selling old Charleston and southern themed books on her Etsy site, Charleston Ink and Art, so she is always on the prowl.
So as a gift, she gave me a real find: a little antique tome called "French Wit and Wisdom", stuffed with quotes from famous French authors of another era. The original price is printed on the leaf inside: $1.00 (which speaks to how old it is: 72 years to be exact).
This is perfect since we are in Charleston for Christmas this year, and I won't be able to share the French quotes from the wrappers of the chocolate papillotes as I usually do (like this former post, and this one). This little book is actually in English, but as usual I've got some French homework for you–I've posted the quotes in French, too, so you can practice. (Exception: no translation for a couple of quotes because I could not locate the original citation in French).
I've picked a sampler for you. Some of the quotes are appropriate and cautionary for our scary world at the moment, and some are just good advice. Inspiration for your new year's resolutions maybe? Joyeux Noel et Bonne anneé to all!
Here are some some wise quotes that seem right on target for our difficult and polarized times:
Politeness acts as a guard over the rough edges on our character, preventing them from harming others. We should never lay it aside, even in contact with coarse people.—Joubert
La politesse est une sorte d'émoussoir qui enveloppe les aspérités de notre caractère et empêche que les autres n'en soient blessés.
In those countries where the morals are the most dissolute, the language is the most severe; as if they would replace on the lips what has deserted the heart—Voltaire
A sovereign is called a tyrant who knows no law but his caprice.—Voltaire
On appelle tyrant le souverain qui ne connaît de lois que son caprice.
Anyone who can make you believe absurdities can make you commit atrocities.—Voltaire
Ceux qui peuvent vous faire croire à des absurdités peuvent vous faire commettre des atrocités.
Religious zeal is a a pure and enlightened attachment to worship of the Divinity and its maintenance and progress; but when it grows blind and false and takes to persecution, it becomes the greatest scourge of humanity.—Voltaire
Prejudice is the reason of fools.—Voltaire
Le préjugé est une opinion sans jugement.
Narcissists, like dwarfs, have the stature of a child with the face of a man.—Joubert
Les orgueilleux me semblent avoir, comme les nains, la taille d'un enfant et la contenance d'un homme.
And some life lessons:
Jest with Life; that's all it's good for.—Voltaire
Je joue avec la vie, madame; elle n'est bonne qu'à cela.
The more one judges, the less one loves.—Balzac
Plus on juge, moins on aime.
We should wear our velvet next to the skin–that is we should be the most amiable and agreeable to those of our own family.—Joubert
Il faut porter son velours en dedans, c'est-à-dire, montrer son amabilité de préférence à ceux avec qui l'on vit chez soi.
Had we ourselves no faults we should find less pleasure in discovering them in others.—Rochefoucauld
Si nous n'avions pas tant de défauts, nous ne prendrions pas tant de plaisir à en remarquer chez les autres.
We never live; we are always in expectation of living.–Voltaire
Nous ne vivons jamais, nous attendons la vie.
The most completely lost of all days is the one on which we have not laughed.—Chamfort
La plus perdue de toutes les journées est celle où l'on n'a pas ri.
Merry Christmas and the happiest new year to all!
P.S. No new recipe today, but I did stumble across a recipe for my Lucky New Year's Pie, which made an appearance in a guest post for Kristin Espinasse's French-Word-A-Day way back in 2010. Some years back we decided to forget the Hoppin' John and make something with Gran Marnier every New Year's day, for some sweet good luck. And so far it's working! Lately I've been making a Gran Marnier soufflé, but this year I'll go back to this Lucky Gran Marnier pie recipe, loved and lost.
Favorite READS: I have one more quote from the book for you, from Joubert: "The one drawback of new books is that they prevent our reading old ones." Le grand inconvénient des livres nouveaux est de nous empêcher de lire les anciens. In that case, why not revisit the ultimate French classic, Le Petit Prince, as I did recently–I hadn't read it since my high school French class. Better yet, read it to your kids or grandkids. or even more fun, you can find Le Petit Prince on youtube, narrated by Kenneth Branaugh, with the simple illustrations in the book brought to life with animation.
24 thoughts on “Bits of French Wisdom for a Happy New Year”
Very enjoyable, as usual!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Love, Candi Potts
Very enjoyable, as usual!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Love, Candi Potts
Very enjoyable, as usual!! Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!!
Love, Candi Potts
Merry Merry Christmas! Enjoy all those crazy lights – kinda miss that decadent part of the holidays! Best wishes for the New Year!!
Merry Merry Christmas! Enjoy all those crazy lights – kinda miss that decadent part of the holidays! Best wishes for the New Year!!
Merry Merry Christmas! Enjoy all those crazy lights – kinda miss that decadent part of the holidays! Best wishes for the New Year!!
It’s such a nice way to go into a new year, filling your head with witty bits of wisdom, many that put a smile on your face.
Happy New Year, Lynn, to both of you. We’ll drink a toast to many good times ahead, good health, healthy friends and family, successful businesses and happy kitty cats!
It’s such a nice way to go into a new year, filling your head with witty bits of wisdom, many that put a smile on your face.
Happy New Year, Lynn, to both of you. We’ll drink a toast to many good times ahead, good health, healthy friends and family, successful businesses and happy kitty cats!
It’s such a nice way to go into a new year, filling your head with witty bits of wisdom, many that put a smile on your face.
Happy New Year, Lynn, to both of you. We’ll drink a toast to many good times ahead, good health, healthy friends and family, successful businesses and happy kitty cats!
Greay quotes and words of wisdom. Merci. Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année
Greay quotes and words of wisdom. Merci. Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année
Greay quotes and words of wisdom. Merci. Joyeux Noël et Bonne Année
I always look forward to your fabulous blog Lynn and this one is a joy to end the year. I finally completed our new children’s book and I’m so relieved! The title is “It’s A Rainforest.” These books are so much work and more than the eye beholds.
Thank you for the mouth watering pie recipe. Merry Christmas and a Happy and Joy-filled New Year Lynn.
I always look forward to your fabulous blog Lynn and this one is a joy to end the year. I finally completed our new children’s book and I’m so relieved! The title is “It’s A Rainforest.” These books are so much work and more than the eye beholds.
Thank you for the mouth watering pie recipe. Merry Christmas and a Happy and Joy-filled New Year Lynn.
I always look forward to your fabulous blog Lynn and this one is a joy to end the year. I finally completed our new children’s book and I’m so relieved! The title is “It’s A Rainforest.” These books are so much work and more than the eye beholds.
Thank you for the mouth watering pie recipe. Merry Christmas and a Happy and Joy-filled New Year Lynn.
Lynn,ma chere,
Today’s post and pictures are absolutely wonderful! So many terrific and still appropriate quotes!(Am enchanted with your book! What a terrific and thoughtful gift!)
Your words are inspiration for us to remember back to those(what now would seem in memory to be) times less stressful,especially filled with Kristi’s 2010 blog, and her almost ethereal Grand Marnier pie.
And Nicole’s Tarte au Chocolate is close to a kiss from heaven.
What fun to see these again!
A perfect Christmas gift and no better way to bring in 2023.
Merci et REMERCI!!!!!
Joyeux Noel et Bonne Nouvelle Annee,filled with blessings,health,and love, to you, Ron, and your family
Lynn,ma chere,
Today’s post and pictures are absolutely wonderful! So many terrific and still appropriate quotes!(Am enchanted with your book! What a terrific and thoughtful gift!)
Your words are inspiration for us to remember back to those(what now would seem in memory to be) times less stressful,especially filled with Kristi’s 2010 blog, and her almost ethereal Grand Marnier pie.
And Nicole’s Tarte au Chocolate is close to a kiss from heaven.
What fun to see these again!
A perfect Christmas gift and no better way to bring in 2023.
Merci et REMERCI!!!!!
Joyeux Noel et Bonne Nouvelle Annee,filled with blessings,health,and love, to you, Ron, and your family
Lynn,ma chere,
Today’s post and pictures are absolutely wonderful! So many terrific and still appropriate quotes!(Am enchanted with your book! What a terrific and thoughtful gift!)
Your words are inspiration for us to remember back to those(what now would seem in memory to be) times less stressful,especially filled with Kristi’s 2010 blog, and her almost ethereal Grand Marnier pie.
And Nicole’s Tarte au Chocolate is close to a kiss from heaven.
What fun to see these again!
A perfect Christmas gift and no better way to bring in 2023.
Merci et REMERCI!!!!!
Joyeux Noel et Bonne Nouvelle Annee,filled with blessings,health,and love, to you, Ron, and your family
Dear Lynn, welcome home, for the time being. I too live in the Charleston area and I just was wondering how shocked you were by the welcoming below freezing temperatures here! Crazy huh? Well, thanks for the tomes, and you and your family have a very merry Xmas!
Derin G.
Dear Lynn, welcome home, for the time being. I too live in the Charleston area and I just was wondering how shocked you were by the welcoming below freezing temperatures here! Crazy huh? Well, thanks for the tomes, and you and your family have a very merry Xmas!
Derin G.
Dear Lynn, welcome home, for the time being. I too live in the Charleston area and I just was wondering how shocked you were by the welcoming below freezing temperatures here! Crazy huh? Well, thanks for the tomes, and you and your family have a very merry Xmas!
Derin G.
Lynn,
You are an inspiration! We will be in France in March. Hope that we can see one another.
Happy New Year!
Claudia Sansone
Lynn,
You are an inspiration! We will be in France in March. Hope that we can see one another.
Happy New Year!
Claudia Sansone
Lynn,
You are an inspiration! We will be in France in March. Hope that we can see one another.
Happy New Year!
Claudia Sansone