John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
4613 Thomas Paine 1737-1809 John Bartlett
| NUMBER: | 4613 |
| AUTHOR: | Thomas Paine (1737–1809) |
| QUOTATION: | The sublime and the ridiculous are often so nearly related, that it is difficult to class them separately. One step above the sublime makes the ridiculous, and one step above the ridiculous makes the sublime again. 1 |
| ATTRIBUTION: | Age of Reason. Part ii. note. |
| WORKS: | Thomas Paine Collection. |
| Note 1. Probably this is the original of Napoleon’s celebrated mot, “Du sublime au ridicule il n’y a qu’un pas” (From the sublime to the ridiculous there is but one step). [back] |