Jean de La Fontaine Quotations

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

Beware, so long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance.

Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life.

Patience and time do more than strength or passion.

Dressed in the lion's skin, the ass spread terror far and wide.

Everyone calls himself a friend, but only a fool relies on it; nothing is commoner than the name, nothing rarer than the thing.

Better a living beggar than a buried emperor.

Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.

Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.

Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.

Let ignorance talk as it will, learning has its value.

Nothing is as dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is to be preferred.

Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.

Sadness flies away on the wings of time.

It is impossible to please all the world and one's father.

A pessimist and an optimist, so much the worse; so much the better.

There is no road of flowers leading to glory.

Never sell the bear's skin before one has killed the beast.

Everyone has his faults which he continually repeats: neither fear nor shame can cure them.

Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire.

It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

People must help one another; it is nature's law.

One often has need of one, inferior to himself.

The argument of the strongest is always the best.

Be advised that all flatterers live at the expense of those who listen to them.

Every journalist owes tribute to the evil one.

One returns to the place one came from.

But the shortest works are always the best.

We like to see others, but don't like others to see through us.

Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go.

We read on the foreheads of those who are surrounded by a foolish luxury, that fortune sells what she is thought to give.

Patience and perseverance at lengthAccomplish more than anger or brute strength.

Even if misfortune is only good for bringing a fool to his senses, it would still be just to deem it good for something.

We are never content with our lot.

What a wonderful thing it is to have a good friend. He identifies your innermost desires, and spares you the embarrassment of disclosing them to him yourself.

I bend, but I do not break.

The worst time is always the present.

Neither blows from pitchfork, nor from the lash, can make him change his ways. [Fr., Coups de fourches ni d'etriveres, Ne lui font changer de manieres.]

Our condition never satisfies us; the present is always the worst. Though Jupiter should grant his request to each, we should continue to importune him.

It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. [Fr., Car c'est double plaisir de tromper le trompeur.]

Every one turns his dreams into realities as far as he can; man is cold as ice to the truth, hot as fire to falsehood.

Nothing is so dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is worth more. [Fr., Rien n'est si dangereux qu'un ignorant ami; Mieux vaudrait un sage ennemi.]

Men of all ages have the same inclinations, over which reason exercises no control. Thus, wherever men are found, there are follies, ay, and the same follies.

Garde-toi, tant que tu vivras, De juger des gens sur la mine. Beware as long as you live, Of judging others according to appearance alone.

Une ample Come die a' cent actes divers, Et dont la sce' ne est l'Univers. A grand comedy in one hundred different acts, On the stage of the universe.

Le mensonge et les vers de tout temps sont amis. Lies and literature have always been friends.

It is said, that the thing you possess is worth more than two you may have in the future. The one is sure and the other is not.

To win a race, the swiftness of a dart Availeth not without a timely start

All roads lead to Rome, but our antagonists think we should choose different paths.

He is very foolish who aims at satisfying all the world and his father.

You've tried to reform what will not learn. Shut doors on traits that you wish were dead; They will open a window and return.

Sensible people find nothing useless.

Diversity, that is my motto.

But every one has a besetting sin to which he returns.

It is no use running; to set out betimes is the main point.

La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure. The reason of the strongest is always the best.

Je plie, et ne romps pas. I bend but do not break.

Alas! we see that the small have always suffered for the follies of the great. [Fr., Helas! on voit que de tout temps Les Petits ont pati des sottises des grands.]

No flowery road leads to glory. [Fr., Aucun chemin de fleurs ne conduit a la gloire.]

Let us not overstrain our talents, lest we do nothing gracefully: a clown, whatever he may do, will never pass for a gentleman. [Fr., Ne forcons point notre talent; Nous ne ferions rien avec grace: Jamais un lourdaud, quoi qu'il fasse, Ne saurit passer pour galant.]

Better to rely on one powerful king than on many little princes.

Sensible people find nothing useless. [Fr., Il n'est rien d'inutile aux personnes de sens.]

The ruins of a house may be repaired; why cannot those of the face?

As sheepish as a fox captured by a fowl. [Fr., Honteux comme un renard qu'une poule aurait pris.]

A hare is not caught with a drum.

Such gluttony second to none Almost ended fatally When a bone choked a wolf as he gulped what he ate

Blind fortune pursues inconsiderate rashness. [Fr., Fortune aveugle suit aveugle hardiesse.]

Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion. [Fr., C'est un betail servile et sot a mon avis Que les imitateurs.]

A cheerful mind is a vigorous mind.

Gentleness succeeds better than violence.

I bend and do not break.

Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.

No path of flowers leads to glory.

In everything we ought to look at the end.

Religious contention is the devil's harvest.

We love good looks rather than what is practical, Though good looks may prove destructive.

One should stick to the sort of thing for which one was made; I tried to be an herbalist, Whereas I should keep to the butchers trade.

No favor can win gratitude from a cat.

How wealthy the gods would be if we remembered the promises we made when we were in danger.

Learn that every flatterer Lives at the flattered listeners cost.

We believe no evil till the evil's done

What God does, He does well.

Rely only on yourself; it is a common proverb.

It is good to be charitable; but to whom? That is the point. As to the ungrateful, there is not one who does not at last die miserable.

The strongest passion is fear.

There's nothing sweeter than a real friend: Not only is he prompt to lend— An angler delicate, he fishes The very deepest of your wishes, And spares your modesty the task His friendly aid to ask. A dream, a shadow, wakes his fear, When pointing at the object dear.

Let fools the studious despise, There's nothing lost by being wise.

He knoweth the universe, and himself he knoweth not.

Patience et longueur de temps Font plus que force ni que rage. Patience and longevity Are worth more than force and rage.

The fastidious are unfortunate; nothing satisfies them.

In short, luck's always to blame.

Rather suffer than die is man's motto.

Help yourself, and Heaven will help you.

Better to suffer than to die.

Still people are dangerous.

From a distance it is something; and nearby it is nothing.

To hell with pleasure that's haunted by fear.

Nothing weighs on us so heavily as a secret.

Is not moderation an old refrain Ringing in our ears? from which we all refrain.