Quotes by Edmond Rostand

“My pessimism goes to the point of suspecting the sincerity of the pessimists”

“Pessimism - Every dark cloud has a silver lining, but lightning kills hundreds of people each year who are trying to find it.”

“We all agree that pessimism is a mark of superior intellect.”

“And what is a kiss, specifically? A pledge properly sealed, a promise seasoned to taste, a vow stamped with the immediacy of a lip, a rosy circle drawn around the verb to love. A kiss is a message too intimate for the ear, infinity captured in the bees brief visit to a flower, secular communication with an aftertaste of heaven, the pulse rising from the heart to utter its name on a lovers lip: Forever.”

“A promise more precise; the sealing of Confessions that till then were barely breathed; A rosy dot placed on the i in loving; A secret thats confided to a mouth and not to ears”

“The dream, alone, is of interest. What is life, without a dream?”

“A large nose is in fact the sign of an affable man, good, courteous, witty, liberal, courageous, such as I am.”

“A pessimist is a man who tells the truth prematurely.”

A great nose may be an indexOf a great soul

I carry my adornments on my soul.I do not dress up like a popinjay;But inwardly, I keep my daintiness.I do not bear with me, by any chance,An insult not yet washed away- a conscienceYellow with unpurged bile- an honor frayedTo rags, a set of scruples badly worn.I go caparisoned in gems unseen,Trailing white plumes of freedom, garlandedWith my good name- no figure of a man,But a soul clothed in shining armor, hungWith deeds for decorations, twirling- thus-A bristling wit, and swinging at my sideCourage, and on the stones of this old townMaking the sharp truth ring, like golden spurs!

Your neck. I want to kiss it.

Cyrano: The leaves---Roxane: What color---Perfect Venetian red! Look at them fall.Cyrano: Yes---they know how to die. A little wayFrom the branch to the earth, a little fearOf mingling with the common dust---and yetThey go down gracefully---a fall that seemsLike flying!

...But...to sing,to dream, to smile, to walk, to be alone, be free,with a voice that stirs and an eye that still can see!To cock your hat to one side, when you pleaseat a yes, a no, to fight, or- make poetry!To work without a thought of fame or fortune,on that journey, that you dream of, to the moon!Never to write a line thats not your own...

Proclaim your pride and bitterness loudly to the world, but to me speak softly, and tell me simply that she doesnt love you.

My heart always timidly hides itself behind my mind. I set out to bring down stars from the sky, then, for fear of ridicule, I stop and pick little flowers of eloquence.

Watching other people making friends, everywhere, as a dog makes friends. I mark the manner of these canine courtesies and think, here comes, thank Heaven, another enemy!

My soul, be satisfied with flowers,With fruit, with weeds even; but gather themIn the one garden you may call your own.

I know that in the end youll overwhelm me, but Ill still fight you as long as theres a breath in my body... Yes, youve robbed me of everything: the laurels of glory, the roses of love! But theres one thing you cant take away from me. When I go to meet God this evening, and doff my hat before the lofty gates, my salute will sweep the blue threshold of heaven, because Ill still have one thing intact, without a stain, something that Ill take with me in spite of you: My white plume.

I have a different idea of elegance. I dont dress like a fop, its true, but my moral grooming is impeccable. I never appear in public with a soiled conscience, a tarnished honor, threadbare scruples, or an insult that I havent washed away. Im always immaculately clean, adorned with independence and frankness. I may not cut a stylish figure, but I hold my soul erect. I wear my deeds as ribbons, my wit is sharper then the finest mustache, and when I walk among men I make truths ring like spurs.

A kiss is a secret which takes the lips for the ear.