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" With a very few exceptions, every word in the French vocabulary comes straight from the Latin. "

Lytton Strachey

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" 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. "

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" The old interests of aristocracy - the romance of action, the exalted passions of chivalry and war - faded into the background, and their place was taken by the refined and intimate pursuits of peace and civilization. "

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" Though, with the ascendancy of Louis, the political power of the nobles finally came to an end, France remained, in the whole complexion of her social life, completely aristocratic. "

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

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" How far the existence of the Academy has influenced French literature, either for good or for evil, is an extremely dubious question. "

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" 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. "

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" English dramatic literature is, of course, dominated by Shakespeare; and it is almost inevitable that an English reader should measure the value of other poetic drama by the standards which Shakespeare has already implanted in his mind. "

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" 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. "

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" 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. "

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" 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. "

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" Discretion is not the better part of biography. "

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" When Louis XIV assumed the reins of government France suddenly and wonderfully came to her maturity; it was as if the whole nation had burst into splendid flower. "

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