Jean De La Fontaine Quotes & Sayings

A hare is not caught with a drum. — Jean De La Fontaine

People who make no noise are dangerous. — Jean De La Fontaine

We ought to consider the end in everything. — Jean De La Fontaine

The argument of the strongest is always the best. — Jean De La Fontaine

We ought never to scoff at the wretched, for who can be sure of continued happiness? — Jean De La Fontaine

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

Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable. — Jean De La Fontaine

The finest victory is to conquer one's own heart. — Jean De La Fontaine

Better to rely on one powerful king than on many little princes. — Jean De La Fontaine

Be advised that all flatterers live at the expense of those who listen to them. — Jean De La Fontaine

Religious contention is the devil's harvest. — Jean De La Fontaine

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.] — Jean De La Fontaine

How wealthy the gods would be if we remembered the promises we made when we were in danger. — Jean De La Fontaine

Man is ice to truth and fire to falsehood. — Jean De La Fontaine

Everyone believes very easily whatever he fears or desires. — Jean De La Fontaine

Love cries victory when the tears of a woman become the sole defence of her virtue. — Jean De La Fontaine

Still people are dangerous. — Jean De La Fontaine

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

I bend and do not break. — Jean De La Fontaine

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. — Jean De La Fontaine

If every man works at that for which nature fitted him, the cows will be well tended. — Jean De La Fontaine

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.] — Jean De La Fontaine

Everyone calls himself a friend, but only a fool relies on it: nothing is commoner than the name, nothing rarer than the thing. — Jean De La Fontaine

One often has need of one, inferior to himself. — Jean De La Fontaine

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. — Jean De La Fontaine

Nothing weighs more than a secret. — Jean De La Fontaine

In this world we must help one another. — Jean De La Fontaine

In everything we ought to look at the end. — Jean De La Fontaine

Let us not overstrain our talents, lest we do nothing gracefully. — Jean De La Fontaine

The worst time is always the present. — Jean De La Fontaine

The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man's perfidy will rebound on himself. — Jean De La Fontaine

One should oblige everyone to the extent of one's ability. One often needs someone smaller than oneself. — Jean De La Fontaine

Everyone has his faults which he continually repeats: neither fear nor shame can cure them. — Jean De La Fontaine

We like to see others, but don't like others to see through us. — Jean De La Fontaine

Example is a dangerous lure: where the wasp got through the gnat sticks fast. — Jean De La Fontaine

But the shortest works are always the best. — Jean De La Fontaine

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

Foxes are all tail, and women all tongue. — Jean De La Fontaine

Cats know not how to pardon. — Jean De La Fontaine

By time and toil we sever What strength and rage could never. — Jean De La Fontaine

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

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. — Jean De La Fontaine

It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver. — Jean De La Fontaine

I bend, but I do not break. — Jean De La Fontaine

Diversity, that is my motto. — Jean De La Fontaine

Learn that every flatterer Lives at the flattered listeners cost. — Jean De La Fontaine

Rather suffer than die is man's motto. — Jean De La Fontaine

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer. — Jean De La Fontaine

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. — Jean De La Fontaine

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. — Jean De La Fontaine

There is no road of flowers leading to glory. — Jean De La Fontaine

Patience and time do more than force and rage. — Jean De La Fontaine

There is nothing useless to men of sense. — Jean De La Fontaine

Help thyself and Heaven will help thee. — Jean De La Fontaine

A mountain in labour shouted so loud that everyone, summoned by the noise, ran up expecting that she would be delivered of a city bigger than Paris; she brought forth a mouse. — Jean De La Fontaine

Nothing weighs on us so heavily as a secret. — Jean De La Fontaine

Our destiny is frequently met in the very paths we take to avoid it. — Jean De La Fontaine

A hungry stomach cannot hear. — Jean De La Fontaine

Patience and perseverance at lengthAccomplish more than anger or brute strength. — Jean De La Fontaine

By the work one knows the workman. — Jean De La Fontaine

We believe easily what we fear of what we desire — Jean De La Fontaine

A pessimist and an optimist, so much the worse; so much the better. — Jean De La Fontaine

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. — Jean De La Fontaine

No path of flowers leads to glory. — Jean De La Fontaine

People must help one another; it is nature's law. — Jean De La Fontaine

Luck's always to blame. — Jean De La Fontaine

If you deal with a fox, think of his tricks. — Jean De La Fontaine

Habit, to which all of us are more or less slaves. — Jean De La Fontaine

What God does, He does well. — Jean De La Fontaine

We risk all in being too greedy. — Jean De La Fontaine

Such gluttony second to none
Almost ended fatally
When a bone choked a wolf as he gulped what he ate — Jean De La Fontaine

Better to suffer than to die. — Jean De La Fontaine

The strongest passion is fear. — Jean De La Fontaine

All roads lead to Rome, but our antagonists think we should choose different paths. — Jean De La Fontaine

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

Let ignorance talk as it will, learning has its value. — Jean De La Fontaine

One returns to the place one came from. — Jean De La Fontaine

To win a race, the swiftness of a dart Availeth not without a timely start — Jean De La Fontaine

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.] — Jean De La Fontaine

A cheerful mind is a vigorous mind. — Jean De La Fontaine

Let fools the studious despise,
There's nothing lost by being wise. — Jean De La Fontaine

Never sell the bear's skin before one has killed the beast. — Jean De La Fontaine

Every editor of newspapers pays tribute to the devil. — Jean De La Fontaine

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. — Jean De La Fontaine

The good, we do it; the evil, that is fortune; man is always right, and destiny always wrong. — Jean De La Fontaine

He knoweth the universe, and himself he knoweth not. — Jean De La Fontaine

Help yourself, and Heaven will help you. — Jean De La Fontaine

To hell with pleasure that's haunted by fear. — Jean De La Fontaine

The fastidious are unfortunate; nothing satisfies them. — Jean De La Fontaine

We heed no instincts but our own. — Jean De La Fontaine

Beware, so long as you live, or judging men by their outwards appearance. — Jean De La Fontaine

It is impossible to please all the world and one's father. — Jean De La Fontaine

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. — Jean De La Fontaine

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. — Jean De La Fontaine

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.] — Jean De La Fontaine

It is no use running; to set out betimes is the main point. — Jean De La Fontaine

We become innocent when we are unfortunate. — Jean De La Fontaine

Every newspaper editor owes tribute to the devil. — Jean De La Fontaine

Sadness flies away on the wings of time. — Jean De La Fontaine

Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him. — Jean De La Fontaine