Best 108 quotes of Jean De La Fontaine on MyQuotes

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.]

Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.

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

No favor can win gratitude from a cat.

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

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

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.]

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.

Often we find our own destiny on the same roads that we have been avoiding.

O love, when thou gettest dominion over us, we may bid good-by to prudence.

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.

One returns to the place one came from.

One should oblige everyone to the extent of one's ability. One often needs someone smaller than oneself.

O tyrant love, when held by you, We may to prudence bid adieu. [Fr., Amour! Amour! quand tu nous tiens On peut bien dire, Adieu, prudence.]

Our destiny is frequently met in the very paths we take to avoid it.

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

Patience and time do more than strength or passion.

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

People who make no noise are dangerous.

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.

Rather suffer than die is man's motto.

Religious contention is the devil's harvest.

Rogues are always found out in some way. Whoever is a wolf will act like a wolf, that is most certain.

Sadness flies away on the wings of time.

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

Sensible people find nothing useless.

Silent people are dangerous; others are not so. [Fr., Les gens sans bruit sont dangereux; Il n'en est pas ainsi des autres.]

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.

Still people are dangerous.

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

The argument of the strongest is always the best.

The fastidious are unfortunate: nothing can satisfy them. [Lat., Les delicats sont malheureux, Rien ne saurait les satisfaire.]

The finest victory is to conquer one's own heart.

The good, we do it; the evil, that is fortune; man is always right, and destiny always wrong.

The more wary you are of danger, the more likely you are to meet it.

There is no road of flowers leading to glory.

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.

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

The sign brings customers.

The worst time is always the present.

Tis thus we heed no instincts but our own, Believe no evil, till the evil's done. [Fr., Nous n'ecoutons d'instincts que ceux qui sont les notres. Et ne croyons le mal que quand il est venu.]

To hell with pleasure that's haunted by fear.

To live lightheartedly but not recklessly; to be gay without being boisterous; to be courageous without being bold; to show trust and cheerful resignation without fatalism - this is the art of living.

Too many expedients may spoil an affair. [Fr., Le trop d'expedients peut gater une affaire.]

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

Un auteur ga"  te tout quand il veut trop bien faire. An author spoils everything when he wants too much to do good.

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.

We become innocent when we are unfortunate.

We believe easily what we fear of what we desire

We heed no instincts but our own.