ALCESTE: Esteem is founded on comparison:
To honor all men is to honor none.

 
[Sur quelque préférence une estime se fonde,
Et c’est n’estimer rien qu’estimer tout le monde.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Le Misanthrope, Act 1, sc. 1 (1666) [tr. Wilbur (1954)]
    (Source)

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Preference must be based on esteem, and to esteem every one is to esteem no one.
[tr. Van Laun (1878)]

Esteem must be founded on some preference, and to esteem all the world is to esteem no one.
[tr. Mathew (1890)]

Esteem is based on preference; to esteem the whole world alike is to feel no esteem for anyone.
[tr. Wormeley (1894)]

Preference is based on esteem, and to esteem every one is not to esteem anyone.
[tr. Waller (1903)]

Real love must rest upon some preference;
You might as well love none, as everybody.
[tr. Page (1913)]

But true esteem is based on preference;
Esteeming everyone, you esteem nothing.
[tr. Bishop (1957)]

Esteem, if it be real, means preference,
And when bestowed on all it makes no sense.
[tr. Frame (1967)]

On some preference esteem is based; to esteem everything is to esteem nothing.
[E.g. (1968)]


 
Added on 15-Nov-24 | Last updated 15-Nov-24
Link to this post | No comments
Topics: , , , , , , ,
More quotes by Moliere

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *