Jean de La Fontaine
He knoweth the universe, and himself he knoweth not.Collection: Knowledge
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.Collection: Long
Nothing weighs more than a secret.Collection: Secret
All roads lead to Rome, but our antagonists think we should choose different paths.Collection: Thinking
To win a race, the swiftness of a dart Availeth not without a timely startCollection: Winning
I bend but do not break.Collection: Break
Better to rely on one powerful king than on many little princes.Collection: Kings
In everything we ought to look at the end.Collection: Looks
Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion.Collection: Imagination
Rely only on yourself; it is a common proverb.Collection: Common
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.Collection: Sticks
The sign brings customers.Collection: Business
Women keep no secrets, and I know many men, who are women in this regard.Collection: Men
We ought never to scoff at the wretched, for who can be sure of continued happiness?Collection: Misery
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.Collection: Good Friend
Le mensonge et les vers de tout temps sont amis. Lies and literature have always been friends.Collection: Lying
But every one has a besetting sin to which he returns.Collection: Weakness
It is good to be charitable; but to whom? That is the point. As to the ungrateful, there is not one who does not at last die miserable.Collection: Ungrateful
One should oblige everyone to the extent of one's ability. One often needs someone smaller than oneself.Collection: Needs
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.Collection: Dream
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.Collection: Doors
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.Collection: Jupiter
The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man's perfidy will rebound on himself.Collection: Men
Rogues are always found out in some way. Whoever is a wolf will act like a wolf, that is most certain.Collection: Way
We ought to consider the end in everything.Collection: Ends
We believe easily what we fear of what we desireCollection: Believe
The good, we do it; the evil, that is fortune; man is always right, and destiny always wrong.Collection: Destiny
Still people are dangerous.Collection: People
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.Collection: Cities
Le geai pare des plumes du paon. A bluejay in peacock feathers.Collection: Peacock
Un auteur ga" te tout quand il veut trop bien faire. An author spoils everything when he wants too much to do good.Collection: Too Much
What is denominated discretion in man we call cunning in brutes.Collection: Men
Even if misfortune is only good for bringing a fool to his senses, it would still be just to deem it good for something.Collection: Adversity
Is not moderation an old refrain Ringing in our ears? from which we all refrain.Collection: Ears
Habit, to which all of us are more or less slaves.Collection: Slave