Best 108 quotes of Jean De La Fontaine on MyQuotes

A cheerful mind is a vigorous mind.

A hare is not caught with a drum.

A hungry stomach cannot hear.

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

All the brains in the world are powerless against the sort of stupidity that is in fashion.

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.

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

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

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

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

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

But a rascal of a child (that age is without pity). [Fr., Mais un pripon d'enfant (cet age est sans pitie).

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

By the work one knows the workman.

By time and toil we sever What strength and rage could never.

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

Diversity, that is my motto.

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

Every editor of newspapers pays tribute to the devil.

Every journalist owes tribute to the evil one.

Every newspaper editor owes tribute to the devil. [Fr., Tout faiseur de journaux doit tribut au Malin.]

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

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

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.

Example is a dangerous lure: where the wasp got through the gnat sticks fast.

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

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.

Gentleness succeeds better than violence.

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

He knows the universe and does not know himself.

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

If you deal with a fox, think of his tricks.

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

Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion.

In this world we must help one another.

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

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

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

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

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.

It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

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

Learn that every flatterer Lives at the flattered listeners cost.

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

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.]

Love cries victory when the tears of a woman become the sole defence of her virtue.

Lynx-eyes toward our equals, and moles to ourselves. [Fr., Lynx envers nos pareils, et taupes envers nous.]

Man is ice to truth and fire to falsehood.

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

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.