Top 100 Jean de La Fontaine Quotes (2024 Update)
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51. “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

52. “Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

53. “Is not moderation an old refrain Ringing in our ears? from which we all refrain.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

54. “The ruins of a house may be repaired; why cannot those of the face?”

— Jean de La Fontaine

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

— Jean de La Fontaine

56. “He knows the universe and does not know himself.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

57. “To hell with pleasure that’s haunted by fear.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

58. “One should oblige everyone to the extent of one’s ability. One often needs someone smaller than oneself.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

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

— Jean de La Fontaine

60. “Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

61. “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

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

— Jean de La Fontaine

63. “Better to suffer than to die.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

64. “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

65. “Foxes are all tail, and women all tongue.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

66. “Le mensonge et les vers de tout temps sont amis. Lies and literature have always been friends.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

67. “In short, luck’s always to blame.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

68. “Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

69. “No favor can win gratitude from a cat.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

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

— Jean de La Fontaine

71. “Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

72. “The argument of the strongest is always the best.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

73. “If every man works at that for which nature fitted him, the cows will be well tended.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

74. “Rather suffer than die is man’s motto.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

75. “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

76. “Le geai pare des plumes du paon. A bluejay in peacock feathers.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

77. “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

78. “The finest victory is to conquer one’s own heart.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

79. “To win a race, the swiftness of a dart Availeth not without a timely start.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

80. “The sign brings customers.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

81. “From a distance it is something; and nearby it is nothing.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

82. “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

83. “We heed no instincts but our own.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

84. “We love good looks rather than what is practical, Though good looks may prove destructive.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

85. “Better to rely on one powerful king than on many little princes.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

86. “It is impossible to please all the world and one’s father.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

87. “We believe no evil till the evil’s done.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

88. “In this world we must help one another.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

89. “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

90. “O love, when thou gettest dominion over us, we may bid good-by to prudence.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

91. “One returns to the place one came from.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

92. “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

93. “The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man’s perfidy will rebound on himself.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

94. “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

95. “In every trouble the little ones duck more easily.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

96. “Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.”

— Jean de La Fontaine

97. “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

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

— Jean de La Fontaine

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

— Jean de La Fontaine

100. “The strongest passion is fear.”

— Jean de La Fontaine