Jean de La Fontaine Quotes
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Better to suffer than to die.
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Neither blows from pitchfork, nor from the lash, can make him change his ways. [Fr., Coups de fourches ni d'etriveres, Ne lui font changer de manieres.]
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The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man's perfidy will rebound on himself.
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Everyone believes very easily whatever they fear or desire.
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Nothing weighs more than a secret.
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The strongest passion is fear.
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Nothing is as dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is to be preferred.
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Rather suffer than die is man's motto.
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In every trouble the little ones duck more easily.
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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.
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Beware, so long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance.
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Often we find our own destiny on the same roads that we have been avoiding.
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People must help one another; it is nature's law.
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But a rascal of a child (that age is without pity). [Fr., Mais un pripon d'enfant (cet age est sans pitie).
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If you deal with a fox, think of his tricks.
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He knows the universe and does not know himself.
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La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure. The reason of the strongest is always the best.
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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.
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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.
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All the brains in the world are powerless against the sort of stupidity that is in fashion.
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Sensible people find nothing useless. [Fr., Il n'est rien d'inutile aux personnes de sens.]
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Everyone calls himself a friend, but only a fool relies on it; nothing is commoner than the name, nothing rarer than the thing.
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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.]
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We believe no evil till the evil's done
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Better a living beggar than a buried emperor.
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Too many expedients may spoil an affair. [Fr., Le trop d'expedients peut gater une affaire.]
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No path of flowers leads to glory.
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Man is ice to truth and fire to falsehood.
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We read on the foreheads of those who are surrounded by a foolish luxury, that fortune sells what she is thought to give.
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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.
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