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
winning race swiftness
To win a race, the swiftness of a dart Availeth not without a timely start
father world satisfaction
He is very foolish who aims at satisfying all the world and his father.
doors wish return
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.
foxes tails tongue
Foxes are all tail, and women all tongue.
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.
instinct miscellaneous heed
We heed no instincts but our own.
forgiveness cat pardon
Cats know not how to pardon.
editors devil journalism
Every newspaper editor owes tribute to the devil. [Fr., Tout faiseur de journaux doit tribut au Malin.]
slave habit
Habit, to which all of us are more or less slaves.
foxes fowl captured
As sheepish as a fox captured by a fowl. [Fr., Honteux comme un renard qu'une poule aurait pris.]
suits blind fortune
Blind fortune pursues inconsiderate rashness. [Fr., Fortune aveugle suit aveugle hardiesse.]
eye criticism moles
Lynx-eyes toward our equals, and moles to ourselves. [Fr., Lynx envers nos pareils, et taupes envers nous.]
innocence innocent unfortunate
We become innocent when we are unfortunate.