Jean De La Fontaine Quotes

Cats know not how to pardon.

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.

Gentleness succeeds better than violence.

No path of flowers leads to glory.

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

Women keep no secrets, and I know many men, who are women in this regard.

We ought never to scoff at the wretched, for who can be sure of continued happiness?

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

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

A hare is not caught with a drum.

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

Better a living beggar than a buried emperor.

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

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

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

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

Diversity, that is my motto.

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.

There is no road of flowers leading to glory.

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

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

In short, luck's always to blame.

A cheerful mind is a vigorous mind.

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

The strongest passion is fear.

Rather suffer than die is man's motto.

Better to suffer than to die.

The worst time is always the present.

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

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

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

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.

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

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

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

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

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

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

Habit, to which all of us are more or less slaves.

Learn that every flatterer Lives at the flattered listeners cost.

The fastidious are unfortunate; nothing satisfies them.

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

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

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.]

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

Every editor of newspapers pays tribute to the devil.

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

Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.

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

Sensible people find nothing useless.