Moliere -- Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 5, sc. 3 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]

Dave — Fri, 20 Jun 2025 16:27:31 +0000

MME. PERNELLE: The tongues of spite are busy night and noon.
And to their venom no man is immune.

[Les langues ont toujours du venin à répandre,
Et rien n’est ici-bas qui s’en puisse défendre.]

Molière (1622-1673) French playwright, actor [stage name for Jean-Baptiste Poquelin]
Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 5, sc. 3 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]
(Source)

Dismissing the accusations against Tartuffe by her son, Orgon.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Tongues never want for Venom to spit; nothing here below can be Proof against them.
[tr. Clitandre (1672)]

Evil tongues have always venom to scatter abroad, and nothing here below can guard against it.
[tr. Van Laun (1876)]

Evil tongues have always some venom to pour fourth; and here below there is nothing proof against them.
[tr. Wall (1879)]

Tongues never lack venom to spread about. Nothing in this world can be proof against them.
[tr. Mathew (1890), 5.2]

Tongues are always ready to spit venom: nothing here below is proof against them.
[tr. Waller (1903)]

Their tongues for spitting venom never lack,
There's nothing here below they'll not attack.
[tr. Page (1909)]

Many a tongue is ready to spread slander,
And nothing in this world is proof against it.
[tr. Bishop (1957)]

Venom is what their tongues will never lack,
And nothing here below escapes attack.
[tr. Frame (1967)]

No -- slanderous tongues on every hand,
All poisonous talk.
[tr. Bolt (2002)]

Nothing in this world can deflect the venom of malice.
[tr. Steiner (2008)]

Wicked tongues will always have poison to spread about.
[tr. Campbell (2013)]

WIST Quotations

Moliere -- Tartuffe, or the Hypocrite [Le Tartuffe, ou L’Imposteur], Act 5, sc. 3 (1669) [tr. Wilbur (1963)]