16 Motivational Quotes By Jean De La Fontaine, The Renowned French Fabulist

Famous As: French Fabulist and One of the Most Widely Read French Poets of the 17th Century

Born On: 1621

Died On: 1695

Born In: Château-Thierry, Champagne, France

Died At Age: 73

Jean de la Fontaine was a renowned French poet and fabulist known to have written some of the greatest fables of ‘French Literature’. At an early stage of his career, he joined the Parliament of Paris as a lawyer and later moved on to pursue his passion for writing. He debuted with ‘L'Eunuque’ which was an incomplete play by Publius Terentius Afer. This was followed by his first original work titled ‘Adonis’, this gave him instant fame and he was taken as an apprentice by Nicolas Fouquet who was the then French finance minister. He had to move out of Paris for some time as his master was imprisoned for betraying the country and his faith towards him was regarded as a royal disgrace. During this period he published various popular verses including ‘Comtes et nouvelles en vers’ which enhanced his reputation as a poet. His return to Paris started a new chapter in his writing career. He became a patron to Marguerite de Lorrain and wrote the ‘Fables’ which was the most notable work of his life. He is believed to have published more than 200 fables. We bring to you a compilation of quotations and sayings by the distinguished poet. Read on the famous quotes and thoughts by Jean de la Fontaine which have been excerpted from his writings, poems, fables, life and work.

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Writers

Poets

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.
Jean de La Fontaine

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.
Love
Jean de La Fontaine

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

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

Sadness flies away on the wings of time.

Sadness flies away on the wings of time.
Time
Jean de La Fontaine

Everyone believes very easily whatever he fears or desires.

Everyone believes very easily whatever he fears or desires.
Jean de La Fontaine

Beware, so long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance.

Beware, so long as you live, of judging men by their outward appearance.
You
Jean de La Fontaine

Nothing weighs on us so heavily as a secret.

Nothing weighs on us so heavily as a secret.
Jean de La Fontaine

Patience and time do more than force and rage.

Patience and time do more than force and rage.
Time
Jean de La Fontaine

To hell with pleasure that's haunted by fear.

To hell with pleasure that's haunted by fear.
Fear
Jean de La Fontaine

Often we find our own destiny on the same roads that we have been avoiding.

Often we find our own destiny on the same roads that we have been avoiding.
Jean de La Fontaine

Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life.

Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life.
Life
Jean de La Fontaine

Death never takes the wise man by surprise; He is always ready to go.

Death never takes the wise man by surprise; He is always ready to go.
Death Never
Jean de La Fontaine

Every newspaper editor owes tribute to the devil.

Every newspaper editor owes tribute to the devil.
Jean de La Fontaine

The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man's perfidy will rebound on himself.

The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man's perfidy will rebound on himself.
Will
Jean de La Fontaine

Never sell the bear's skin before one has killed the beast.

Never sell the bear's skin before one has killed the beast.
Never
Jean de La Fontaine

Ich gönnte keinem andern," fuhr er fort zu lügen, "Ein solch olympisch Schlemmerglück, Nur dir, mein liebster Freund, allein. Geniesse dies mit vollen Zügen.
Jean de La Fontaine