Jean de La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontainewas the most famous French fabulist and one of the most widely read French poets of the 17th century. He is known above all for his Fables, which provided a model for subsequent fabulists across Europe and numerous alternative versions in France, and in French regional languages...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPoet
Date of Birth8 July 1621
CountryFrance
Jean de La Fontaine quotes about
glory
No flowery road leads to glory. [Fr., Aucun chemin de fleurs ne conduit a la gloire.]
grace gentleman may
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.]
kings powerful littles
Better to rely on one powerful king than on many little princes.
people useless sensible
Sensible people find nothing useless. [Fr., Il n'est rien d'inutile aux personnes de sens.]
house ruins faces
The ruins of a house may be repaired; why cannot those of the face?
foxes fowl captured
As sheepish as a fox captured by a fowl. [Fr., Honteux comme un renard qu'une poule aurait pris.]
hares caught caution
A hare is not caught with a drum.
greed bones gluttony
Such gluttony second to none Almost ended fatally When a bone choked a wolf as he gulped what he ate
suits blind fortune
Blind fortune pursues inconsiderate rashness. [Fr., Fortune aveugle suit aveugle hardiesse.]
fool opinion imitation
Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion. [Fr., C'est un betail servile et sot a mon avis Que les imitateurs.]
mind cheerful vigorous
A cheerful mind is a vigorous mind.
evil journalism tribute
Every journalist owes tribute to the evil one.
succeed violence gentleness
Gentleness succeeds better than violence.
break
I bend and do not break.