John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.
Jean de La Fontaine 1621-1695 John Bartlett
| 1 |
| The opinion of the strongest is always the best. |
| The Wolf and the Lamb. Book i. Fable 10. |
| 2 |
| By the work one knows the workman. |
| The Hornets and the Bees. Fable 21. |
| 3 |
| It is a double pleasure to deceive the deceiver. |
| The Cock and the Fox. Book ii. Fable 15. |
| 4 |
| It is impossible to please all the world and one’s father. |
| Book iii. Fable 1. |
| 5 |
| In everything one must consider the end. 1 |
| The Fox and the Gnat. Fable 5. |
| 6 |
| “They are too green,” he said, “and only good for fools.” 2 |
| The Fox and the Grapes. Fable 11. |
| 7 |
| Help thyself, and God will help thee. 3 |
| Book vi. Fable 18. |
| 8 |
| The fly of the coach. |
| Book vii. Fable 9. |
| 9 |
| The sign brings customers. |
| The Fortune-Tellers. Fable 15. |
| 10 |
| Let ignorance talk as it will, learning has its value. |
| The Use of Knowledge. Book viii. Fable 19. |
| 11 |
| No path of flowers leads to glory. |
| Book x. Fable 14. |
| Note 1. Remember the end, and thou shalt never do amiss.—Ecclesiasticus. iii. 36. [back] |
| Note 2. Sour grapes. [back] |
| Note 3. See Herbert, Quotation 28. [back] |