François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis, comte de Lyonnais was a French cardinal and diplomat. He was the sixth member elected to occupy Seat 3 of the Académie française in 1744. Bernis was one of the most prominent figures in the autobiography of Giacomo Casanova Histoire de ma vie starting from the chapter on "Convent Affairs". Wikipedia
François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis
Malheureux qui craint de rentrer
Dans la retraite de son âme!
Le coeur qui cherche a s'ignorer
Redoute un censeur qui le blâme.
Les Quatre saisons, ou les Géorgiques françoises, poëme (1763), Chant IV.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 154.
“Naturalness is the seal of genius.”
François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis
Réflexions sur les passions et sur les goûts (1741).
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 131.
“To-day we only smile, we laugh no more,
And e'en our very pleasures seem to bore.”
François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis
On ne rit plus, on sourit aujourd'hui,
Et nos plaisirs sont voisins a l'eunui.
Réflexions sur les passions et sur les goûts (1741).
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 170.
“The hallowed love of country.”
François-Joachim de Pierre de Bernis
Epítre sur les Mœurs.
Translation reported in Harbottle's Dictionary of quotations French and Italian (1904), p. 87.
