Lytton Strachey

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. ↗

— Lytton Strachey

#contrary #descended #direction #french #french language

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. ↗

— Lytton Strachey

#established #firmly #francis #i #monarchy

There is something dark and wintry about the atmosphere of the later Middle Ages. ↗

— Lytton Strachey

#ages #atmosphere #dark #later #middle

Though, with the ascendancy of Louis, the political power of the nobles finally came to an end, France remained, in the whole complexion of her social life, completely aristocratic. ↗

— Lytton Strachey

#ascendancy #came #completely #complexion #end

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

— Lytton Strachey

#aristocrat #fact #gives #his #la

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. ↗

— Lytton Strachey

#burst #came #flower #france #government

When the French nation gradually came into existence among the ruins of the Roman civilization in Gaul, a new language was at the same time slowly evolved. ↗

— Lytton Strachey

#came #civilization #evolved #existence #french

With a very few exceptions, every word in the French vocabulary comes straight from the Latin. ↗

— Lytton Strachey

#every #exceptions #few #french #latin

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

— Lytton Strachey

#common #french #french literature #literature #our