The more wary you are of danger, the more likely you are to meet it.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Optimism, Positive Attitudes
Beware, so long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Appearance
We always take credit for the good and attribute the bad to fortune.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Success & Failure, Achievement
Let ignorance talk as it will, learning has its value.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Learning, One liners
Nothing weighs on us so heavily as a secret.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Secrets
Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which strengthens with the setting sun of life.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Friendship, Friends
Still people are dangerous.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Manners, Behavior, Danger
It is twice the pleasure to deceive the deceiver.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Deception/Lying, Deception
We only listen to those instincts which are our own, and only give credit to the evil when it has befallen us.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Judging, Friendship, Judgment
Any one entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.
—Jean de La Fontaine
By the work one knows the workmen.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Work, Quality
We risk all in being too greedy.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Gratitude, Appreciation, Blessings
Everyone has a wallet behind for his own failings, and one before for the failings of others.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Friends, Friendship
Everyone has his faults which he continually repeats: neither fear nor shame can cure them.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Faults, Mistakes
Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Greatness & Great Things, Greatness
One returns to the place one came from.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Home
I bend, but I do not break.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Perseverance, Endurance, Resolve, Courage
There is no road of flowers leading to glory
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: One liners, Glory
He knows the universe and does not know himself.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Awareness, Self-Knowledge, Identity
Half of today is better than all of tomorrow.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Tomorrow, The Present
What a wonderful thing it is to have a good friend. He identities your innermost desires, and spares you the embarrassment of disclosing them to him yourself.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Friendship, Candor
In everything one must consider the end.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Goals, Aspirations
Death never takes the wise man by surprise; he is always ready to go.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Death, Dying
Lynx-eyed to our neighbors, and moles to ourselves.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Judgment
Nothing is so dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is worth more.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Ignorance
In short, luck’s always to blame.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Luck
The worst time is always the present.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: The Past
It is of no use running; to set out betimes is the main point.
—Jean de La Fontaine
Topics: Punctuality, Haste
Wondering Whom to Read Next?
- Jean Cocteau French Poet, Artist
- Guillaume Apollinaire Italian-born French Poet
- Alphonse de Lamartine French Poet, Politician, Historian
- Arthur Rimbaud French Poet
- Remy de Gourmont French Poet, Writer
- Charles Baudelaire French Poet
- Michel Houellebecq French Author
- Victor Hugo French Novelist
- Claude Bernard French Physiologist
- Voltaire French Philosopher, Author
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