Jean de La Fontaine Quotes

44 Sourced Quotes

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

Jean de La Fontaine
History some truths contains, which well may serve
For lessons. In my work you will observe
Every thing speaks — yea e'en the very fish —
And what they say, to every man a dish
Serves up; and I of animals make choice
That men may get instruction from their voice.

Jean de La Fontaine
Man is so made that whenever anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.

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

Jean de La Fontaine
A certain fox, it is said, wanted to become a wolf. Ah! who can say why no wolf has ever craved the life of a sheep?

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

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
"They are too green", he said, "and only good for fools".

Jean de La Fontaine
There's nothing useless to a man of sense.

Jean de La Fontaine
Folly was condemned to serve as a guide to Love whom she had blinded.

Jean de La Fontaine
He knows the universe, and himself he does not know.

Jean de La Fontaine
It is difficult for a woman to keep a secret: and I know more than one man who is a woman.

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
It is a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

Jean de La Fontaine
Nothing weighs so heavy as a secret; women find it difficult to carry one far. And I know a lot of men who are just like women about this.

Jean de La Fontaine
Fond youth flatters itself that all must heed its prayer.

Jean de La Fontaine
Patience and time do more than strength or passion.

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

Jean de La Fontaine
For animals I choose To proffer lessons that we all might use.

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
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
By time and toil we sever What strength and rage could never.

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

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

Jean de La Fontaine