Top 160 Quotes & Sayings by Jean de La Fontaine - Page 2
Explore popular quotes and sayings by a French poet Jean de La Fontaine.
Last updated on April 16, 2025.
Let us not overstrain our talents, lest we do nothing gracefully.
He knows the universe and does not know himself.
The finest victory is to conquer one's own heart.
Socrates, when informed of some derogating speeches one had used concerning him behind his back, made only this facetious reply, "Let him beat me too when I am absent.
Love cries victory when the tears of a woman become the sole defence of her virtue.
Sensible people find nothing useless.
To hell with pleasure that's haunted by fear.
Better to suffer than to die.
In every trouble the little ones duck more easily.
The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man's perfidy will rebound on himself.
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.
We risk all in being too greedy.
Rely only on yourself; it is a common proverb.
Le mensonge et les vers de tout temps sont amis. Lies and literature have always been friends.
We ought never to scoff at the wretched, for who can be sure of continued happiness?
Silent people are dangerous; others are not so.
[Fr., Les gens sans bruit sont dangereux;
Il n'en est pas ainsi des autres.]
Patience et longueur de temps Font plus que force ni que rage. Patience and longevity Are worth more than force and rage.
He is very foolish who aims at satisfying all the world and his father.
I bend, but I do not break.
No path of flowers leads to glory.
We heed no instincts but our own.
In everything one must consider the end.
It is no use running; to set out betimes is the main point.
Let fools the studious despise,
There's nothing lost by being wise.
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.
We become innocent when we are unfortunate.
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.
Religious contention is the devil's harvest.
Example is a dangerous lure: where the wasp got through the gnat sticks fast.
Diversity, that is my motto.
By time and toil we sever What strength and rage could never.
One should oblige everyone to the extent of one's ability. One often needs someone smaller than oneself.
Help yourself, and Heaven will help you.
Rogues are always found out in some way. Whoever is a wolf will act like a wolf, that is most certain.
In this world we must help one another.
But every one has a besetting sin to which he returns.
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.
The worst time is always the present.
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.
Every editor of newspapers pays tribute to the devil.
Patience and perseverance at lengthAccomplish more than anger or brute strength.
Nothing is so oppressive as a secret: women find it difficult to keep one long; and I know a goodly number of men who are women in this regard.
One often has need of one inferior to himself.
Women keep no secrets, and I know many men, who are women in this regard.
If every man works at that for which nature fitted him, the cows will be well tended.
We love good looks rather than what is practical, Though good looks may prove destructive.
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 fastidious are unfortunate: nothing can satisfy them.
[Lat., Les delicats sont malheureux,
Rien ne saurait les satisfaire.]
But a rascal of a child (that age is without pity).
[Fr., Mais un pripon d'enfant (cet age est sans pitie).
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.
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.
We are never content with our lot.
We believe easily what we fear of what we desire
Nothing weighs more than a secret.
All roads lead to Rome, but our antagonists think we should choose different paths.
He knoweth the universe, and himself he knoweth not.
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.
As sheepish as a fox captured by a fowl.
[Fr., Honteux comme un renard qu'une poule aurait pris.]
Lynx-eyes toward our equals, and moles to ourselves.
[Fr., Lynx envers nos pareils, et taupes envers nous.]
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.]
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