Jean de La Fontaine was a French poet and fabulist who lived in the 17th century. He is known for his Fables, which were based on Aesop's Fables and were written in verse form. His works are still widely read and studied today and remain a major influence in French literature.
Patience and time do more than strength or passion.
A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.
Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.
Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life.
Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go.
Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.
Beware, so long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance.
Jean De La Fontaine inspirational quote
Jean De La Fontaine Image Quotes
Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer. — Jean De La Fontaine
A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.
Patience and time do more than strength or passion. — Jean De La Fontaine
A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it. — Jean De La Fontaine
Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him. — Jean De La Fontaine
Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go. — Jean De La Fontaine
Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish. — Jean De La Fontaine
Jean De La Fontaine Short Quotes
It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
He knows the universe and does not know himself.
Our destiny is frequently met in the very paths we take to avoid it.
Nothing weighs on us so heavily as a secret.
Sadness flies away on the wings of time.
In this world we must help one another.
The finest victory is to conquer one's own heart.
By the work one knows the workman.
Every journalist owes tribute to the evil one.
Example is a dangerous lure: where the wasp got through the gnat sticks fast.
Jean De La Fontaine Famous Quotes And Sayings
Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer. — Jean De La Fontaine
Patience and time do more than strength or passion. — Jean De La Fontaine
A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it. — Jean De La Fontaine
Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him. — Jean De La Fontaine
Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go. — Jean De La Fontaine
Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish. — 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
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. — Jean De La Fontaine
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. — 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
Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish — Jean De La Fontaine
Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion. — Jean De La Fontaine
In every trouble the little ones duck more easily. — Jean De La Fontaine
Man is ice to truth and fire to falsehood. — Jean De La Fontaine
One often has need of one, inferior to himself. — Jean De La Fontaine
We become innocent when we are unfortunate. — Jean De La Fontaine
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. — Jean De La Fontaine
From a distance it is something; and nearby it is nothing. — Jean De La Fontaine
Nothing is so dangerous as an ignorant friend. — Jean De La Fontaine
The argument of the strongest is always the best. — Jean De La Fontaine
We always take credit for the good and attribute the bad to fortune. — Jean De La Fontaine
If you deal with a fox, think of his tricks. — Jean De La Fontaine
Cats know not how to pardon. — Jean De La Fontaine
Rather suffer than die is man's motto. — Jean De La Fontaine
We risk all in being too greedy. — Jean De La Fontaine
Everyone has his faults which he continually repeats: neither fear nor shame can cure them. — Jean De La Fontaine
In short, luck's always to blame. — 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
Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire. — Jean De La Fontaine
Still people are dangerous. — Jean De La Fontaine
A pessimist and an optimist, so much the worse; so much the better. — Jean De La Fontaine
A hare is not caught with a drum. — Jean De La Fontaine
We ought never to scoff at the wretched, for who can be sure of continued happiness? — Jean De La Fontaine
The fastidious are unfortunate; nothing satisfies them. — 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
Gentleness succeeds better than violence. — Jean De La Fontaine
Blind fortune pursues inconsiderate rashness.
[Fr., Fortune aveugle suit aveugle hardiesse.] — Jean De La Fontaine
It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
[Fr., Car c'est double plaisir de tromper le trompeur.] — Jean De La Fontaine
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. — Jean De La Fontaine
All roads lead to Rome, but our antagonists think we should choose different paths. — Jean De La Fontaine
Neither wealth or greatness render us happy. — Jean De La Fontaine
As sheepish as a fox captured by a fowl.
[Fr., Honteux comme un renard qu'une poule aurait pris.] — Jean De La Fontaine
A cheerful mind is a vigorous mind. — Jean De La Fontaine
To win a race, the swiftness of a dart Availeth not without a timely start — Jean De La Fontaine
Help yourself, and Heaven will help you. — Jean De La Fontaine
It is no use running; to set out betimes is the main point. — Jean De La Fontaine
Nothing is as dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is to be preferred. — Jean De La Fontaine
Diversity, that is my motto. — 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
The worst time is always the present. — 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
Let fools the studious despise,
There's nothing lost by being wise. — 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
The fastidious are unfortunate: nothing can satisfy them.
[Lat., Les delicats sont malheureux,
Rien ne saurait les satisfaire.] — Jean De La Fontaine
We read on the foreheads of those who are surrounded by a foolish luxury, that fortune sells what she is thought to give. — Jean De La Fontaine
We believe no evil till the evil's done — Jean De La Fontaine
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.] — Jean De La Fontaine
We believe easily what we fear of what we desire — Jean De La Fontaine
He is very foolish who aims at satisfying all the world and his father. — 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
But every one has a besetting sin to which he returns. — Jean De La Fontaine
Better to rely on one powerful king than on many little princes. — Jean De La Fontaine
Religious contention is the devil's harvest. — Jean De La Fontaine
Patience and the passage of time do more than strength and fury. — Jean De La Fontaine
Patience and perseverance at lengthAccomplish more than anger or brute strength. — Jean De La Fontaine
What is denominated discretion in man we call cunning in brutes. — 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
By the work one knows the workmen. — Jean De La Fontaine
One returns to the place one came from. — Jean De La Fontaine
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. — 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
Lynx-eyes toward our equals, and moles to ourselves.
[Fr., Lynx envers nos pareils, et taupes envers nous.] — Jean De La Fontaine
Luck's always to blame. — 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
By time and toil we sever What strength and rage could never. — Jean De La Fontaine
He knoweth the universe, and himself he knoweth not. — Jean De La Fontaine
Half of today is better than all of tomorrow. — 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
O love, when thou gettest dominion over us, we may bid good-by to prudence. — Jean De La Fontaine
Women keep no secrets, and I know many men, who are women in this regard. — 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
All the brains in the world are powerless against the sort of stupidity that is in fashion. — 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
Sensible people find nothing useless.
[Fr., Il n'est rien d'inutile aux personnes de sens.] — Jean De La Fontaine
Nothing weighs more than a secret. — 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
Foxes are all tail, and women all tongue. — Jean De La Fontaine
Le mensonge et les vers de tout temps sont amis. Lies and literature have always been friends. — Jean De La Fontaine
Learn that every flatterer Lives at the flattered listeners cost. — Jean De La Fontaine
We heed no instincts but our own. — 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
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
I bend, but I do not break. — 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
Life Lessons by Jean De La Fontaine
Jean De La Fontaine taught us to appreciate the beauty of nature and to never take anything for granted. He also taught us to be kind to others and to always strive for a better world. Finally, he showed us that it is important to stay humble and to never forget to laugh at life's absurdities.
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