Fables

A hungry stomach cannot hear.

Let ignorance talk as it will, learning has its value.

Nothing is as dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is to be preferred.

Our destiny is frequently met in the very paths we take to avoid it.

Nothing weighs on us so heavily as a secret.

Death never takes the wise man by surprise, he is always ready to go.

Man is so made that when anything fires his soul, impossibilities vanish.

People who make no noise are dangerous.

On the wings of Time grief flies away.

The ant is no lender; that is the least of her faults.

There's nothing useless to a man of sense.

By the work one knows the workman.

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

To win a race, the swiftness of a dart availeth not without a timely start.

The fastidious are unfortunate; nothing satisfies them.

Dressed in the lion's skin, the ass spread terror far and wide.

'Tis thus we heed no instincts but our own;

Believe no evil till the evil's done.

One should oblige everyone to the extent of one's ability. One often needs someone smaller than oneself.

For thee I'll trace in verses which I write

Some sketches, paintings which indeed are light,

And if the prize of pleasing thee I do not bear away,

At least, the honour I shall have of having tried I say.

The opinion of the strongest is always the best.

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.

In everything one must consider the end.

Better to suffer than to die: that is mankind's motto.

Be advised that all flatterers live at the expense of those who listen to them.

Patience and time do more than strength or passion.

It is a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver.

Kindness effects more than severity.

Love is a cruel conqueror.

Happy is he who knows him through stories

And not by his blows!

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

In short, luck's always to blame.

The sign brings customers.

It is impossible to please all the world and one's father.

... a wise man knows

Gold comes but slowly, quickly goes;

I never touched it." "Gracious me!"

Replied the other, "why, then, be

So wretched? for if you say true,

You never touched it, plain the case;

Put back that stone upon the place,

'Twill be the very same to you."

No path of flowers leads to glory.

The fly of the coach.

"They are too green", he said, "and only good for fools".

Je plie, et ne romps pas.

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

Aide-toi, le ciel t'aidera.