In the literature of France Moliere occupies the same kind of position as Cervantes in that of Spain, Dante in that of Italy, and Shakespeare in that of England. His glory is more than national - it is universal.

There is something dark and wintry about the atmosphere of the later Middle Ages.

The amateur is very rare in French literature - as rare as he is common in our own.

The stability and peace which seemed to be so firmly established by the brilliant monarchy of Francis I vanished with the terrible outbreak of the Wars of Religion.

Discretion is not the better part of biography.

But Racine's extraordinary powers as a writer become still more obvious when we consider that besides being a great poet he is also a great psychologist.

It is probably always disastrous not to be a poet.