# Quote — Jean de La Fontaine, Fables

> ... 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."

- Author: [Jean de La Fontaine](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-de-la-fontaine.md)
- Book: [Fables](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-de-la-fontaine/fables.md)
- Original (fr): ... ’argent vient-il comme il s’en va ? / Je n’y touchois jamais. Dites-moy donc de grace, / Reprit l’autre, pourquoy vous vous affligez tant, / Puiſque vous ne touchiez jamais à cet argent : / Mettez une pierre à la place, / Elle vous vaudra tout autant.
- Source: [Wikiquote](https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Jean_de_La_Fontaine#Book_IV) ([CC BY-SA 4.0](https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/))
- Quote page: https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-de-la-fontaine/fables/a-wise-man

## More from this book

> A hungry stomach cannot hear.

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-de-la-fontaine/fables/a-hungry-stomach.md)

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

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-de-la-fontaine/fables/let-ignorance-talk.md)

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

[Quote page](https://www.leafyquotes.com/jean-de-la-fontaine/fables/nothing-is-as-dangerous.md)