The Project Gutenberg EBook of Quotes and Images From The Tales and Novels
of Jean de La Fontaine, by Jean de La Fontaine

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Title: Quotes and Images From The Tales and Novels of Jean de La Fontaine

Author: Jean de La Fontaine
Edited and Arranged by David Widger

Release Date: August 27, 2004 [EBook #7543]
[Last updated on February 16, 2007]

Language: English

Character set encoding: ASCII

*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK QUOTES FROM FONTAINE ***

Produced by David Widger

QUOTES AND IMAGES FROM THE NOVELS OF FONTAINE

THE TALES AND NOVELS

OF

J. DE LA FONTAINE

A pretty wife? Beware the monks as you would guard your life

Above all law is might

Avoid attorneys, if you comfort crave

Delays are dangerous, in love or war

Ev'ry grave's the same

Extremes in ev'ry thing will soonest tire

In childhood FEAR 's the lesson first we know!

In country villages each step is seen

In the midst of society, he was absent from it

Monks are knaves in Virtue's mask

No folly greater than to heighten pain

Some ostentation ever is with grief

The god of love and wisdom ne'er agree

Those who weep most the soonest gain relief

Tis past our pow'r to live on love or air

Twere wrong with hope our fond desires to feed

We scarcely good can find without alloy

Who knows too much, oft shows a want of sense

LIFE OF

JEAN DE LA FONTAINE

Jean de La Fontaine was born on the 8th of July, 1621, at
Chateau-Thierry, and his family held a respectable position there.

His education was neglected, but he had received that genius which makes
amends for all. While still young the tedium of society led him into
retirement, from which a taste for independence afterwards withdrew him.

He had reached the age of twenty-two, when a few sounds from the lyre of
Malherbe, heard by accident, awoke in him the muse which slept.

He soon became acquainted with the best models: Phoedrus, Virgil, Horace
and Terence amongst the Latins; Plutarch, Homer and Plato, amongst the
Greeks; Rabelais, Marot and d'Urfe, amongst the French; Tasso,