Lytton Strachey

“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.”

“In pure literature, the writers of the eighteenth century achieved, indeed, many triumphs; but their great, their peculiar, triumphs were in the domain of thought.”

“Englishmen have always loved Moliere.”

“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.”

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

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