Moliere -- Don Juan [Dom Juan], Act 1, sc. 1 (1665) [tr. Waller (1904)]

Dave — Thu, 30 Oct 2025 21:07:37 +0000

SGANARELLE: But when a great lord is a wicked man, it is a terrible thing.

[Mais un grand seigneur méchant homme est une terrible chose.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Don Juan [Dom Juan], Act 1, sc. 1 (1665) [tr. Waller (1904)]
(Source)

(Source (French)). Other translations:

But a great Lord, a wicked Man, is a terrible thing.
[tr. Clitandre (1672)]

If a great lord is a wicked man it is a terrible thing.
[tr. Van Laun (1876)]

But if a great lord is also a wicked man, it is a terrible thing.
[tr. Wall (1879)]

But a wicked nobleman is a terrible thing.
[tr. Page (1908)]

But a great lord who is a wicked man is a terrible thing.
[tr. Frame (1967)]

But a wicked nobleman is a frightening master.
[tr. Bermel (1987)]

But a great lord who's a wicked man is a frightening thing.
[tr. Wilbur (2001)]

Sometimes rendered "What a terrible thing to be a great lord, yet a wicked man," though I could not find a good source for that phrasing, which is also attributed to Carlos Castañeda.

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Journal (1838)

Dave — Tue, 01 Nov 2016 01:58:31 +0000

They will have Christ for a Lord and not for a Brother. Christ preaches the greatness of man, but we hear only the greatness of Christ.

Ralph Waldo Emerson (1803-1882) American essayist, lecturer, poet
Journal (1838)

WIST Quotations

Moliere -- Don Juan [Dom Juan], Act 1, sc. 1 (1665) [tr. Waller (1904)]

Emerson, Ralph Waldo -- Journal (1838)