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The Three Musketeers

by Alexandre Dumas

The Three Musketeers is a historical adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas, first serialized in 1844. It follows the young Gascon d'Artagnan, who leaves home for Paris hoping to join the King's Musketeers and quickly falls in… more

First published 1844 · 704 pages · English

27 quotes ★ 4.10 (352,236) Classics

Quotes from the Book

All for one and one for all.
You are very amiable, no doubt, but you would be charming if you would only depart.
All for one and one for all, united we stand divided we fall.
Love is the most selfish of all the passions.
The merit of all things lies in their difficulty.
A rogue does not laugh in the same way that an honest man does; a hypocrite does not shed the tears of a man of good faith. All falsehood is a mask; and however well made the mask may be, with a little attention we may always succeed in distinguishing it from the true face.
D’Artagnan: Why is Athos sitting by himself? Aramis: He takes his drinking very seriously. Not to worry, he’ll be his usual charming self by morning.
There is no friendship that cares about an overheard secret.
Be kind, aim for my heart.
Athos liked every one to exercise his own free-will. He never gave his advice before it was demanded and even then it must be demanded twice. "In general, people only ask for advice," he said "that they may not follow it or if they should follow it that they may have somebody to blame for having given it".
Besides we are men, and after all it is our business to risk our lives.
I'm sure you're very nice, but you'd be even nicer if you went away.
And now gentlemen, all for one, one for all - that is our motto, is it not?
Everyone knows that drunkards and lovers have a protecting diety.
Porthos: He thinks he can challenge the mighty Porthos with a sword... D'Artagnan: The mighty who? Porthos: Don't tell me you've never heard of me. D'Artagnan: The world's biggest windbag? Porthos: Little pimple... meet me behind the Luxembourg at 1 o'clock and bring a long wooden box. D'Artagnan: Bring your own... Porthos: [laughs]
Everyone knows that God protects drunkards and lovers.
Within six months, if I am not dead, I shall have seen you again, madam--even if I have to overturn the world.
Nothing makes time pass or shortens the way like a thought that absorbs in itself all the faculties of the one who is thinking. External existence is then like a sleep of which this thought is the dream. Under its influence, time has no more measure, space has no more distance.
We must never expect discretion in first love: it is accompanied by such excessive joy that unless the joy is allowed to overflow, it will choke you.
It is only the dead who do not return.
All falsehood is a mask; and however well made the mask may be, with a little attention we may always succeed in distinguishing it from the true face.
My son, be worthy of your noble name, worthily borne by your ancestors for over five hundred years. Remember it’s by courage, and courage alone, that a nobleman makes his way nowadays. Don’t be afraid of opportunities, and seek out adventures. My son, all I have to give you is fifteen ecus, my horse, and the advice you’ve just heard. Make the most of these gifts, and have a long, happy life.
In general, people only ask for advice that they may not follow it; or, if they should follow it, that they may have somebody to blame for having given it.
I do not often laugh, sir, as you may perceive by the air of my countenance; but nevertheless, I retain the privilege of laughing when I please.
Time, dear friend, time brings round opportunity; opportunity is the martingale of man. The more we have ventured the more we gain, when we know how to wait.
I came to Paris with four écus in my pocket, and I’d have fought with anybody who told me I was in no condition to buy the Louvre.
People in general," he said, "only ask advice not to follow it; or if they do follow it, it is for the sake of having someone to blame for having given it.

Did you know?

  • The novel was first serialized in the newspaper Le Siecle from March to July 1844.
  • Dumas wrote the book in collaboration with the ghostwriter Auguste Maquet.
  • The original French title is Les Trois Mousquetaires.
  • It is the first of Dumas's three d'Artagnan Romances, followed by Twenty Years After and The Vicomte of Bragelonne.
  • The famous motto associated with the musketeers is 'all for one and one for all.'

About Alexandre Dumas

Alexandre Dumas (1802-1870) was a French writer, one of the most widely read authors of the nineteenth century, best known for his historical adventure novels The Three Musketeers and The Count of Monte Cristo. He often worked with collaborators, most notably the writer Auguste Maquet.

More about the author →

About the book

The Three Musketeers is a historical adventure novel by Alexandre Dumas, first serialized in 1844. It follows the young Gascon d'Artagnan, who leaves home for Paris hoping to join the King's Musketeers and quickly falls in with three of their most celebrated members, Athos, Porthos, and Aramis. Their friendship, sealed by the motto of all for one and one for all, draws them into the political intrigues of the court of Louis XIII, pitting them against the powerful Cardinal Richelieu and his beautiful, ruthless agent Milady de Winter.

At its heart the book is a story of loyalty, honor, and camaraderie set against the machinations of seventeenth-century French politics. Dumas blends swordfights, romance, and espionage with sharply drawn characters, using real historical figures and events as a backdrop for a swiftly moving plot of duels, secret missions, and personal revenge.

One of the most widely read novels in the French language, The Three Musketeers established the template for the swashbuckling adventure and remains Dumas's best known work. It is the first of his d'Artagnan Romances, followed by Twenty Years After and The Vicomte of Bragelonne, and its characters and catchphrase have been adapted countless times for film, television, and stage.

Key characters

  • d'ArtagnanA hot-headed young Gascon who travels to Paris to become a King's Musketeer
  • AthosComte de la Fere, a noble, brooding musketeer haunted by his past marriage
  • PorthosA vain, strong, and fashion-loving musketeer
  • AramisA musketeer torn between soldiering and a religious calling
  • Cardinal RichelieuThe king's powerful chief minister and the musketeers' political adversary
  • Milady de WinterA beautiful, dangerous spy in the Cardinal's service and Athos's former wife

Book details

First published
1844
Length
704 pages
Reading time
13 hours
Goodreads rating
4.10 (352k ratings)
First line
“On the first Monday of the month of April, 1625, the market town of Meung, in which the author of Romance of the Rose was born, appeared to be in as perfect a state of revolution as if the Huguenots had just made a second La Rochelle of it.”

Series & reading order

  1. 1 The Three Musketeers
  2. 2 Twenty Years After
  3. 3 The Vicomte of Bragelonne: Ten Years Later

Movie & TV adaptations

  • IMDb
    The Three Musketeers 1973

    Richard Lester's acclaimed film adaptation

  • IMDb
    The Three Musketeers 1993

    Disney's family-oriented adventure film

  • IMDb
    The Three Musketeers 2011

    Paul W. S. Anderson's action-heavy adaptation

If you liked this, read…

  1. 1
    The Count of Monte CristoDumas's other great adventure novel of intrigue and revenge
  2. 2
    Twenty Years AfterThe direct sequel continuing the musketeers' story
  3. 3
    Captain BloodA classic swashbuckling adventure in the same heroic tradition

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