Cyrano de Bergerac Quotes

“She creates grace in her own image, brings
Heaven to earth in one movement of her hand.”

“For a great nose indicates a great man.”

“Yes, all our souls are written in our eyes!”

“You may go—
Or tell me why are you staring at my nose!”

“Speak to her
Speak, man!”

“I do not love you . . . I adore you!”

“There comes one moment, once—and God help those
Who pass that moment by!—when Beauty stands
Looking into the soul with grave, sweet eyes
That sicken at pretty words!”

“I wish I had a woman too,
Walking with little steps under the moon,
And holding my arm so, and smiling.”

“Who knows her smile has known a perfect thing.”

“And to complete
This Punchinello figure—such a nose!—
My lords, there is no such nose as that nose.”

“Why, there is nothing more sublime than tears.”

“Whom I love? Think a moment. Think of me—
Me, whom the plainest woman would despise—
Me, with this nose of mine that marches on
Before me by a quarter of an hour!
Whom should I love? Why—of course—it must be
The woman in the world most beautiful.”

“And why not? If you love her, tell her so!”

“Forgive me
For being light and vain and loving you
Only because you were beautiful.”

“Who was everything, yet was naught.”

″‘To be struck down,
Pierced by sword i’ the heart, from a hero’s hand!′
That I had dreamed. O mockery of Fate!
—Killed, I! of all men—in an ambuscade!
Struck from behind, and by a lackey’s hand!
‘Tis very well. I am foiled, foiled in all,
Even in my death.”

“But who fights ever hoping for success?
I fought for lost cause, and for fruitless quest!”

“Yet I fall fighting, fighting still!”

“There was the allegory of my whole life:
I, in the shadow, at the ladder’s foot,
While others lightly mount to Love and Fame!”

“I know you now, old enemies of mine!
Falsehood! . . . Have at you! Ha! and Compromise!
Prejudice, Treachery!. . .
Surrender, I?
Parley? No, never! You too, Folly,—you?
I know that you will lay me low at last;
Let be! Yet I fall fighting, fighting still!”

“But since Death comes,
I meet him still afoot . . .
And sword in hand!”

“But I have had your friendship—grace to you
A woman’s charm has passed across my path.”