Jean de La Fontaine Quotes

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Jean de La Fontaine

Profession : Poet

Birth : July 8, 1621

Sadness flies away on the wings of time.

Jean de la Fontaine

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.

Jean de La Fontaine

By the work one knows the workman.

Jean de La Fontaine

Beware, so long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance.

Jean de La Fontaine

It is impossible to please all the world and one's father.

Jean de La Fontaine

Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go.

Jean de La Fontaine

Nothing is as dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is to be preferred.

Jean de La Fontaine

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

Jean de La Fontaine

Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.

Jean de La Fontaine

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

Jean de La Fontaine

I bend and do not break.

Jean de La Fontaine

Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life.

Jean de La Fontaine

Better a living beggar than a buried emperor.

Jean de La Fontaine

It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

Jean de La Fontaine

There is no road of flowers leading to glory.

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

Help thyself and Heaven will help thee.

Jean de La Fontaine

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

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

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

Jean de La Fontaine