11 September 2014

Tristan Bernard in the 17th arrondissement, Paris

'TRISTAN BERNARD
1866–1947'

This bust of Tristan Bernard stands in Place Tristan Bernard about half a mile to the west of Ternes métro station. Bernard was a playwright and novelist noted for his aphorisms, hence the expressions round the base of his monument here. He is said to have invented the French board game le jeu des petits chevaux, or Dadas.

'JE NE HAIS
QUE LA HAINE'

'I ONLY
HATE HATRED'

'POUR ÊTRE HEUREUX
AVEC LES ÊTRES
IL NE FAUT PAS
DEMANDER QUE CE
QU'ILS PEUVENT DONNER'

'TO BE HAPPY
WITH OTHERS
YOU MUSTN'T ONLY
ASK THEM WHAT
THEY HAVE TO GIVE'

'NE COMPTER QUE
SUR SOI-MÊME
ET ENCORE
PAS BEAUCOUP'

'ONLY COUNT
ON YOURSELF,
AND NOT TOO
MUCH AT THAT'


Tristan Bernard was buried in the cimetière de Passy in the 16th arrondissement.

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