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Famous Jean de La Fontaine Quotes
“What is denominated discretion in man we call cunning in brutes.”
“The good, we do it; the evil, that is fortune; man is always right, and destiny always wrong.”
“O love, when thou gettest dominion over us, we may bid good-by to prudence.”
“Too many expedients may spoil an affair. [Fr., Le trop d'expedients peut gater une affaire.]”
“The ruins of a house may be repaired; why cannot those of the face?”
“Sensible people find nothing useless. [Fr., Il n'est rien d'inutile aux personnes de sens.]”
“Better to rely on one powerful king than on many little princes.”
“We heed no instincts but our own.”
“The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man's perfidy will rebound on himself.”
“Let us not overstrain our talents, lest we do nothing gracefully.”
“Women keep no secrets, and I know many men, who are women in this regard.”
“Often we find our own destiny on the same roads that we have been avoiding.”
“Let fools the studious despise, There's nothing lost by being wise.”
“A pessimist and an optimist, so much the worse; so much the better.”
“Our destiny is frequently met in the very paths we take to avoid it.”
“Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.”
“Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire.”
“The more wary you are of danger, the more likely you are to meet it.”
“From a distance it is something; and nearby it is nothing.”
“We like to see others, but don't like others to see through us.”