Jean de La Fontaine Quotes - Page 2

No path of flowers leads to glory.

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

Man is ice to truth and fire to falsehood.

Sadness flies away on the wings of time.

Let fools the studious despise, There's nothing lost by being wise.

A hungry stomach cannot hear.

We risk all in being too greedy.

I bend, but I do not break.

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.

Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.

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.

The more wary you are of danger, the more likely you are to meet it.

The worst time is always the present.

Never sell the bear's skin before one has killed the beast.

Everyone has his faults which he continually repeats: neither fear nor shame can cure them.

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

What God does, He does well.

Gentleness succeeds better than violence.

Our destiny is frequently met in the very paths we take to avoid it.

Love cries victory when the tears of a woman become the sole defence of her virtue.

Better a living beggar than a buried emperor.

Let us not overstrain our talents, lest we do nothing gracefully: a clown, whatever he may do, will never pass for a gentleman. [Fr., Ne forcons point notre talent; Nous ne ferions rien avec grace: Jamais un lourdaud, quoi qu'il fasse, Ne saurit passer pour galant.]

He knows the universe and does not know himself.

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.

By the work one knows the workman.