Francois Rabelais Quotes

To good and true love fear is forever affixed.

We always long for the forbidden things, and desire what is denied us.

A habit does not a monk make.

Tell the truth and shame the devil.

A child is not a vase to be filled, but a fire to be lit.

Keep running after a dog and he will never bite you.

If the skies fall, one may hope to catch larks.

If you wish to avoid seeing a fool, you must first break your mirror

You have no obligation under the sun other than to discover your real needs, to fulfill them, and to rejoice in doing so.

Ignorance is the mother of all evils.

Gestures, in love, are incomparably more attractive, effective and valuable than words.

When I drink, I think; and when I think, I drink.

One falls to the ground in trying to sit on two stools.

Appetite comes with eating.....but thirst goes away with drinking.

I place no hope in my strength, nor in my works: but all my confidence is in God my protector, who never abandons those who have put all their hope and thought in him.

It is my feeling that Time ripens all things; with Time all things are revealed; Time is the father of truth.

The scent of wine, oh how much more agreeable, laughing, praying, celestial and delicious it is than that of oil!

I drink no more than a sponge.

I never sleep comfortably except when I am at sermon or when I pray to God.

A war undertaken without sufficient monies has but a wisp of force. Coins are the very sinews of battles.

There is no truer cause of unhappiness amongst men than, where naturally expecting charity and benevolence, they receive harm and vexation.

Languages exist by arbitrary institutions and conventions among peoples; words, as the dialecticians tell us, do not signify naturally, but at our pleasure.

Debts and lies are generally mixed together.

Half the world does not know how the other half lives.

I'd rather write about laughing than crying, For laughter makes men human, and courageous.

No clock is more regular than the belly.

Remove idleness from the world and soon the arts of Cupid would perish.

I drink eternally. For me it is an eternity of drinking, and a drinking up of eternity.

Everything comes in time to those who can wait.

Machination is worth more than force.

So much is a man worth as he esteems himself.

Nature abhors a vacuum.

The deed will be accomplished with the least amount of bloodshed possible, and, if possible ..., we'll save all the souls and send them happily off to their abode.

Friends, you will notice that in this world there are many more ballocks than men. Remember this.

Frugality is for the vulgar.

A good intention does not mean honor. [Fr., A bon entendeur ne faut qu'un parole.]

If you understand why a monkey in a family is always mocked and harassed, you understand why monks are rejected by all--both old and young.

It's a shame to be called "educated" those who do not study the ancient Greek writers.

Bring down the curtain, the farce is over

There are more old drunkards than old physicians.

He who has not an adventure has not horse or mule, so says Solomon.--Who is too adventurous, said Echephron,--loses horse and mule.

To good and true love, fear is forever affixed.

How do you know antiquity was foolish? How do you know the present is wise? Who made it foolish? Who made it wise?

All's well in the end, if you've only the patience to wait.

I build only living stones--men.

I am going to seek a great purpose, draw the curtain, the farce is played.

Misery is the company of lawsuits.

Hungry bellies have no ears. [Fr., La ventre affame n'point d'oreilles.]

One inch of joy surmounts of grief a span, Because to laugh is proper to the man.

Because just as arms have no force outside if there is no counsel within a house, study is vain and counsel useless that is not put to virtuous effect when the time calls.