Jean de La Fontaine Quotes

Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute :
Cette leçon vaut bien un fromage, sans doute.

Flatterers thrive on fools' credulity.
The lesson's worth a cheese, don't you agree?

L’enseigne fait la chalandise.

Il connaît l’univers, et ne se connaît pas.

History some truths contains, which well may serve For lessons. In my work you will observe Ev'ry thing speaks — yea e'en the very fish — And what they say, to ev'ry man a dish Serves up; and I of animals make choice That men may get instruction from their voice.

People who make no noise are dangerous.

S'il fallait condamner Tous les ingrats qui sont au monde, A qui pourrait-on pardonner?

He knows the universe, and himself he does not know.

L'homme est ainsi bâti: Quand un sujet l'enflamme
L'impossibilité disparaît à son âme.

On the wings of Time grief flies away.

People must help one another; it is nature's law.

The sign brings customers.

Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera.

Beware, as long as you live, of judging people by appearances.

Everyone calls himself a friend, but only a fool relies on it: nothing is commoner than the name, nothing rarer than the thing.

C'est double plaisir de tromper le trompeur.