Quotes of All Topics . Occasions . Authors
Be advised that all flatterers live at the expense of those who listen to them.
Patience and perseverance at lengthAccomplish more than anger or brute strength.
Is not moderation an old refrain Ringing in our ears? from which we all refrain.
Love cries victory when the tears of a woman become the sole defence of her virtue.
All roads lead to Rome, but our antagonists think we should choose different paths.
We ought never to scoff at the wretched, for who can be sure of continued happiness?
If every man works at that for which nature fitted him, the cows will be well tended.
No flowery road leads to glory. [Fr., Aucun chemin de fleurs ne conduit a la gloire.]
Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life.
We love good looks rather than what is practical, Though good looks may prove destructive.
All the brains in the world are powerless against the sort of stupidity that is in fashion.
How wealthy the gods would be if we remembered the promises we made when we were in danger.
The best laid plot can injure its maker, and often a man's perfidy will rebound on himself.
Everyone has his faults which he continually repeats: neither fear nor shame can cure them.
Sensible people find nothing useless. [Fr., Il n'est rien d'inutile aux personnes de sens.]
Blind fortune pursues inconsiderate rashness. [Fr., Fortune aveugle suit aveugle hardiesse.]
Too many expedients may spoil an affair. [Fr., Le trop d'expedients peut gater une affaire.]
The good, we do it; the evil, that is fortune; man is always right, and destiny always wrong.
Le mensonge et les vers de tout temps sont amis. Lies and literature have always been friends.
Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.
As sheepish as a fox captured by a fowl. [Fr., Honteux comme un renard qu'une poule aurait pris.]
La raison du plus fort est toujours la meilleure. The reason of the strongest is always the best.
Such gluttony second to none Almost ended fatally When a bone choked a wolf as he gulped what he ate
Rogues are always found out in some way. Whoever is a wolf will act like a wolf, that is most certain.
It is double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. [Fr., Car c'est double plaisir de tromper le trompeur.]
Every newspaper editor owes tribute to the devil. [Fr., Tout faiseur de journaux doit tribut au Malin.]
One should oblige everyone to the extent of one's ability. One often needs someone smaller than oneself.
Lynx-eyes toward our equals, and moles to ourselves. [Fr., Lynx envers nos pareils, et taupes envers nous.]
But a rascal of a child (that age is without pity). [Fr., Mais un pripon d'enfant (cet age est sans pitie).
Un auteur ga" te tout quand il veut trop bien faire. An author spoils everything when he wants too much to do good.
Every one turns his dreams into realities as far as he can; man is cold as ice to the truth, hot as fire to falsehood.
Even if misfortune is only good for bringing a fool to his senses, it would still be just to deem it good for something.
Patience et longueur de temps Font plus que force ni que rage. Patience and longevity Are worth more than force and rage.
We read on the foreheads of those who are surrounded by a foolish luxury, that fortune sells what she is thought to give.
Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion. [Fr., C'est un betail servile et sot a mon avis Que les imitateurs.]
Silent people are dangerous; others are not so. [Fr., Les gens sans bruit sont dangereux; Il n'en est pas ainsi des autres.]
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.
It is said, that the thing you possess is worth more than two you may have in the future. The one is sure and the other is not.
Everyone calls himself a friend, but only a fool relies on it; nothing is commoner than the name, nothing rarer than the thing.
The fastidious are unfortunate: nothing can satisfy them. [Lat., Les delicats sont malheureux, Rien ne saurait les satisfaire.]
One should stick to the sort of thing for which one was made; I tried to be an herbalist, Whereas I should keep to the butchers trade.
It is good to be charitable; but to whom? That is the point. As to the ungrateful, there is not one who does not at last die miserable.
Garde-toi, tant que tu vivras, De juger des gens sur la mine. Beware as long as you live, Of judging others according to appearance alone.
O tyrant love, when held by you, We may to prudence bid adieu. [Fr., Amour! Amour! quand tu nous tiens On peut bien dire, Adieu, prudence.]
Nothing is so oppressive as a secret: women find it difficult to keep one long; and I know a goodly number of men who are women in this regard.
Une ample Come die a' cent actes divers, Et dont la sce' ne est l'Univers. A grand comedy in one hundred different acts, On the stage of the universe.
Our condition never satisfies us; the present is always the worst. Though Jupiter should grant his request to each, we should continue to importune him.
Neither blows from pitchfork, nor from the lash, can make him change his ways. [Fr., Coups de fourches ni d'etriveres, Ne lui font changer de manieres.]
Anyone entrusted with power will abuse it if not also animated with the love of truth and virtue, no matter whether he be a prince, or one of the people.
Nothing is so dangerous as an ignorant friend; a wise enemy is worth more. [Fr., Rien n'est si dangereux qu'un ignorant ami; Mieux vaudrait un sage ennemi.]