Francois Rabelais Quotes - Page 3

Nature abhors a vacuum.

Don't limp in front of the lame.

But where are the snows of last year? That was the greatest concern of Villon, the Parisian poet.

The dress does not make the monk. [Fr., L'habit ne fait le moine.]

Languages exist by arbitrary institutions and conventions among peoples; words, as the dialecticians tell us, do not signify naturally, but at our pleasure.

He who has not an adventure has not horse or mule, so says Solomon.--Who is too adventurous, said Echephron,--loses horse and mule.

Always open all gates and roads to your enemies, and rather make for them a bridge of silver, to get rid of them. [Fr., Ouvrez toujours a vos ennemis toutes les portes et chemin, et plutot leur faites un pont d'argent, afin de les renvoyer.]

Men that are free, well-born, well-bred, and conversant in honest companies, have naturally an instinct and spur that prompteth them unto virtuous actions, and withdraws them from vice, which is called honour. Those same men, when by base subjection and constraint they are brought under and kept down, turn aside from that noble disposition, by which they formerly were inclined to virtue, to shake off and break that bond of servitude, wherein they are so tyrannously enslaved; for it is agreeable with the nature of man to long after things forbidden, and to desire what is denied us.

Bring down the curtain, the farce is over

A good intention does not mean honor. [Fr., A bon entendeur ne faut qu'un parole.]

Early rising is no pleasure; early drinking's just the measure.

A certain jollity of mind, pickled in the scorn of fortune.

It is quite a common and vulgar thing among humans to understand, foresee, know and predict the troubles of others. But oh what a rare thing it is to predict, know, foresee and understand one's own troubles.

Such is the nature and make-up of the French that they are only good at the start. Then they are worse than devils, but, given time, they're less than women.

Fate leads the willing, and th' unwilling draws.

One should never pursue the hazards of fortune to their very ends andit behooves all adventurers to treat their good luck with reverence, neither bothering nor upsetting it.

To laugh is proper to man.

The belly has no ears nor is it to be filled with fair words.

I won't undertake war until I have tried all the arts and means of peace.

The probity that scintillizes in the superfices of your persons informs my ratiocinating faculty, in a most stupendous manner, of the radiant virtues latent within the precious caskets and ventricles of your minds.

Hungry bellies have no ears. [Fr., La ventre affame n'point d'oreilles.]

In this mortal life, nothing is blessed throughout.

A habit does not a monk make.

Row on [whatever happens]. [Lat., Vogue la galere.]

I drink no more than a sponge.