My favorite French quotes

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Discover my favorite French quotes with the English translation that are the best antidote to negative thoughts and they can inspire and motivate us. The French language is one of the most beautiful in the world. And, it’s distinctive due to its unique features. It has a unique melodious sound and pronunciation but also a rich vocabulary.

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Inspirational and motivational quotes in French

It’s not a coincidence that many people consider French the most suitable language to express romance. It has long been linked to love. The French word for “love”, amour, can be traced back to the Latin word “Amor”, which means “to love”. And, it’s no wonder that many of the world’s most beloved love songs are in French. From Edith Piaf to Elton John and Céline Dion, France’s musical legacy has always been one of romance.

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There are so many important French writers, poets, philosophers, etc. So, reading and hearing their motivational and inspirational quotes in their language makes them even more beautiful and sophisticated. One of the most famous French quotes is La vie est un roman (Life is a novel). This line was originally penned by Russian author Leo Tolstoy in his book “War and Peace.” However, it was translated into French as La vie est un Roman during the 19th century. And, quickly became part of French culture.

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Simone de Beauvoir quotes

Simone de Beauvoir was a French writer, philosopher, intellectual, activist, and feminist. Her best-known work was The Second Sex, a feminist analysis of female existence and the oppression of women. Yet, one of the most famous quotes and my favorite French quotes. She wrote was that she accepts the great adventure of being herself, “J’accepte la grande aventure d’être moi”. And, this quote is so motivational and inspiring both in French and English.

“J’accepte la grande aventure d’être moi”.

I accept the great adventure of being me.

—  Simone de Beauvoir

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Albert Camus quotes

Albert Camus was a French philosopher, writer, and author. He’s considered one of the most popular philosophers of the 20th century, and one of the founders of irrationalism. He wrote so many great books and plays. One of my favorite Albert Camus quotes is that to create is to live twice, “Creer, C’est Vivre Deux Fois”. And, I believe this quote expresses so many creators, writers, and artists.

“Creer, C’est Vivre Deux Fois”. 

To create is to live twice. 

—  Albert Camus

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Moreover, Albert Camus has another famous quote that is always on the list of summer quotes. “In the middle of winter, I discovered within myself an invincible summer”, he wrote. In French, this is also beautiful, “Au milieu de l’hiver, j’ai découvert  en moi un invincible été”. Of course, this citation was metaphorical about his attitude and state of mind. Albert Camus explains its meaning as an excellent example of resilience. So, he writes that says that no matter how hard the world pushes against him, there’s something stronger and better to push him right back.

“Au milieu de l’hiver, j’ai découvert  en moi un invincible été”.

In the middle of winter, I discovered within myself an invincible summer. 

—  Albert Camus

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Victor Hugo quotes

“Le bonheur est parfois caché dans l’inconnu.”

Happiness is sometimes hidden in the unknown.

— Victor Hugo

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“Savoir, penser, rêver. Tout est là”.

To know, to think, to dream. It’s all there. 

— Victor Hugo

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Voltaire quotes

“Le mieux est l’ennemi du bien.”

The perfect is the enemy of the good. 

—  Voltaire

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“Laissez lire, et laissez danser ; ces deux amusements ne feront jamais de mal au monde.”

Let us read, and let us dance; these two amusements will never do the world any harm.

—  Voltaire

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Jean-Paul Sartre quotes

Jean-Paul Sartre was a French philosopher, writer, critic, and political activist. He was also the main exponent of philosophical existentialism and a lifetime partner of Simone de Beauvoir. His work continues to influence and is still a subject of study. In this post, I included two citations that are so thought-provoking and inspirational for self-knowledge. The first is that we are our choices, “nous sommes nos choix”. And, these words are enlightening and a quote to live by. I perceive them as the first golden rule when we try to understand ourselves and others. So, no matter what we say or try to show, we are always what to choose, to do or not do.

“Nous sommes nos choix”.

We are our choises.

— Jean-Paul Sartre

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And, the other Jean-Paul Sartre quote is so important and everyone should remember. So, Sartre wrote that every word has a consequence and every silence too. In French, we would say, “Chaque parole a une conséquence. Chaque silence aussi”. Of course, there are many other Sartre quotes about life that are worth remembering and offer deep thoughts and inspiration. My favorite Jean-Paul Sartre novel “Nausea” is full of them and surely worth making another blog post.

“Chaque parole a une conséquence. Chaque silence aussi”.

Every word has a consequence. Every silence too.

— Jean-Paul Sartre

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More inspirational quotes

“La meilleure façon de réaliser ses rêves est de se réveiller.”

The best way to achieve your dreams is to wake up.

– Paul Valéry

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“Il n’y a qu’un bonheur dans la vie, c’est d’aimer et d’être aimé.“

There is only one happiness in life, to love and be loved.

— George Sand

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“Imaginer c’est choisir”.

To imagine is to choose.  

– Jean Giono

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“C’est parce que la vitesse de la lumière est plus rapide que celle du son que tant de gens paresse brillant avant d’avoir l’air con”.

Since light travels faster than sound, people appear bright until you hear them speak.

– Thomas Boishardy

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“Les émotions les plus belles sont celles que tu ne sais pas expliquer”.

The most beautiful feelings are these we don’t know to .

– Charles Baudelaire

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“Presque tous les malheurs de la vie viennent des fausses idées que nous avons sur ce qui nous arrive.“

Almost all our misfortunes in life come from the wrong notions we have about the things that happen to us.

—  Stendhal

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Antoine de Saint-Exupéry quotes

The Little Prince by the French author Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is a great source for favorite French quotes. And, it has an unbeatable record. It’s second at the top of the list of books that have sold more than 100 million copies. Although it is considered a children’s book, everyone can read it. So, from this famous tale, I distinguished three beautiful citations. The first one is about the power of dreams and is so motivational. It says, to make your life a dream and a dream a reality, or in French, “fais de ta vie un rêve, et d’un rêve, une réalité”.

“Fais de ta vie un rêve, et d’un rêve, une réalité.”

Make your life a dream and a dream a reality .

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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This may be the most famous of my favorite French quotes. It’s a fantastic citation about the importance of relationships and meaningful connections with others. It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye, Antoine de Saint-Exupéry wrote. “On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux”, we would read in French. So, love, friendship, compassion, and morality are essential to our lives, but are invisible to our eyes.

“On ne voit bien qu’avec le cœur. L’essentiel est invisible pour les yeux.”

It is only with the heart that one can see rightly. What is essential is invisible to the eye.

— Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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Another beautiful Saint-Exupéry’s citation about relationships is about love. And, it says that love doesn’t mean gazing at each other but looking, together, in the same direction. “Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction”. In other words, true love isn’t about focusing on our partner in any way but rather sharing the same values and similar perceptions of life. He considers that true love should have firstly the meaning of companionship rather than passion.

“Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction”.

Love doesn’t mean gazing at each other but looking, together, in the same direction.

– Antoine de Saint-Exupery

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Lastly, there are two beautiful Antoine de Saint-Exupéry citations about winter, spring, and flowers.

“Se faire printemps, c’est prendre le risque de l’hiver. Se faire présent, c’est prendre le risque de l’absence.”

“But this is the very condition of existence. To become spring, means accepting the risk of winter. To become presence, means accepting the risk of absence.”

– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

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“C’est doux, la nuit, de regarder le ciel. Toutes les étoiles sont fleuries.“

“If you love a flower that lives on a star, it is sweet to look at the sky at night. All the stars are a-bloom with flowers…”

– Antoine de Saint-Exupéry

So, what’s your favorite French quote?

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