January 15.

In bodily objects, for example in a building, greatness is considered from right to left or from left to right; but in intellectual matters it is taken from bottom to top. Thus as much breadth and power of mind may be found in a small number of pages and in an ode (for example) as in an entire long epic poem. It is sublimity that makes the man and assigns him his true rank. But it is true that one who shows himself sublime for a long time must prevail over one who has been able to be so only sometimes. — Unless perhaps the first has shown a much greater beauty of soul and genius than the other.

Or else: — The extent of a palace is measured from east to west or from south to north; but the extent of a work, of a book, is measured from earth to heaven.

January 14.

Why in the language and movements of all violent passions there is always something familiar and native.

In Catullus one finds two things whose union is the worst thing in the world: affected daintiness and coarseness. In general, however, the main idea of each of his little pieces has a happy and artless turn. His airs are pretty, but his instrument is bizarre.

Eyes raised to heaven are always beautiful, whatever they may be.

Go as far as where the newborn dawn sees the Hydaspes To seek the most precious jasper on which to engrave it.

I am sure it was impossible for Boileau not to write these lines slowly, as though engraving them.

January 16.

Concision, — adorned concision, — the unique beauty of style.

Of the kind of extraordinary success the mediocre sometimes enjoy with people of wit.

January 17.

Literature — (taste, rules, genre, beauties, etc.) — invariable (in essence) like morality. Therefore, to introduce through perfection a literature as invariable as morality.

Indeed — the books one intends to reread (in mature age) are rather like the places where one would wish to grow old — the little valley and the middle of the hillside.

January 18.

Every man must be an author, if not of good writings, at least of good deeds.

In literature, to go back to the sources in each language, because, first, one thus opposes antiquity to fashion. — because, second, by thus finding in one’s own language that touch of strangeness that pricks and awakens taste, one speaks it better and with more pleasure. As for the disadvantages, there are none. Old and abolished faults have lost all their malign power; one has nothing more to fear from their contagion.

January 19.

— and if there are minds that produce more quickly, it is because they were sown earlier.