The genius of the French language, descended from its single Latin stock, has triumphed most in the contrary direction - in simplicity, in unity, in clarity, and in restraint.

Perhaps of all the creations of man language is the most astonishing.

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

When the French nation gradually came into existence among the ruins of the Roman civilization in Gaul, a new language was at the same time slowly evolved.

It is probably always disastrous not to be a poet.

Englishmen have always loved Moliere.

Modern as the style of Pascal's writing is, his thought is deeply impregnated with the spirit of the Middle Ages. He belonged, almost equally, to the future and to the past.