François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis

François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis (22 May 1715 – 3 November 1794) was a French cardinal and statesman. He was the sixth member elected to occupy seat 3 of the Académie française in 1744.

Quotes

 * Le naturel est le sceau du génie.
 * Réflexions sur les passions et sur les goûts (1741).
 * Translation: Naturalness is the seal of genius.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 131.


 * On ne rit plus, on sourit aujourd'hui, Et nos plaisirs sont voisins a l'eunui.
 * Réflexions sur les passions et sur les goûts (1741).
 * Translation: To-day we only smile, we laugh no more, And e'en our very pleasures seem to bore.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 170.


 * Malheureux qui craint de rentrer Dans la retraite de son âme! Le coeur qui cherche a s'ignorer Redoute un censeur qui le blâme.
 * Les Quatre saisons, ou les Géorgiques françoises, poëme (1763), Chant IV.
 * Translation: Unhappy he who fears the deep Recesses of his soul to scan! The heart that from itself would hide Fears an unfriendly critic's ban.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 154.


 * L'amour sacré de la patrie.
 * Epítre sur les Mœurs.
 * Translation: The hallowed love of country.
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 87.


 * Quel triste élève de la Grè Pourrait, en voyant sa beauté, Préférer les lis de Lucrèce, Et les paleurs de la sagesse, Aux roses de la volupté?
 * Le Matin.
 * Translation: What gloomy student of old Greece, As on her charms his gaze reposes, Would choose the lilies of Lucrece, Or virtue's garland colourless, In place of passion's roses?
 * Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 192.


 * Monseigneur, j'attendrai
 * Translation: Monseigneur, I will wait
 * Translation reported in