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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.

- Lytton Strachey
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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.

Ignorance is the first requisite of the historian - ignorance, which simplifies and clarifies, which selects and omits, with a placid perfection unattainable by the highest art.

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.

Unlike the majority of the writers of his age, La Rochefoucauld was an aristocrat; and this fact gives a peculiar tone to his work.

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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