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
love friendship true-friend
Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.
temptation victory tears
Love cries victory when the tears of a woman become the sole defence of her virtue.
flattery expenses flatterer
Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.
skins lions lioness
Dressed in the lion's skin, the ass spread terror far and wide.
peacock feathers
Le geai pare des plumes du paon. A bluejay in peacock feathers.
rogues way certain
Rogues are always found out in some way. Whoever is a wolf will act like a wolf, that is most certain.
diversity motto my-motto
Diversity, that is my motto.
kings powerful littles
Better to rely on one powerful king than on many little princes.
slave habit
Habit, to which all of us are more or less slaves.
suits blind fortune
Blind fortune pursues inconsiderate rashness. [Fr., Fortune aveugle suit aveugle hardiesse.]
innocence innocent unfortunate
We become innocent when we are unfortunate.
hell pleasure
To hell with pleasure that's haunted by fear.
dream real wish
There's nothing sweeter than a real friend: Not only is he prompt to lend— An angler delicate, he fishes The very deepest of your wishes, And spares your modesty the task His friendly aid to ask. A dream, a shadow, wakes his fear, When pointing at the object dear.
unfortunate fastidious
The fastidious are unfortunate; nothing satisfies them.