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
boyfriend daughter father
It is impossible to please all the world and one's father.
distance
From a distance it is something; and nearby it is nothing.
hell pleasure
To hell with pleasure that's haunted by fear.
secret
Nothing weighs on us so heavily as a secret.
behavior
We like to see others, but don't like others to see through us.
life success luxury
We read on the foreheads of those who are surrounded by a foolish luxury, that fortune sells what she is thought to give.
ears moderation refrain
Is not moderation an old refrain Ringing in our ears? from which we all refrain.
believe evil done
Tis thus we heed no instincts but our own, Believe no evil, till the evil's done. [Fr., Nous n'ecoutons d'instincts que ceux qui sont les notres. Et ne croyons le mal que quand il est venu.]
men plot rebound
The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man's perfidy will rebound on himself.
forgiveness cat pardon
Cats know not how to pardon.
thinking foxes tricks
If you deal with a fox, think of his tricks.
instinct miscellaneous heed
We heed no instincts but our own.
may affair prudence
Too many expedients may spoil an affair. [Fr., Le trop d'expedients peut gater une affaire.]
love tyrants may
O tyrant love, when held by you, We may to prudence bid adieu. [Fr., Amour! Amour! quand tu nous tiens On peut bien dire, Adieu, prudence.]