Friendship is the shadow of the evening, which increases with the setting sun of life.

Jean de La Fontaine

Rare as is true love, true friendship is rarer.

Jean de La Fontaine

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

Jean de La Fontaine

In everything one must consider the end.

Jean de La Fontaine

By the work one knows the workman.

Jean de La Fontaine

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.

Jean de La Fontaine

Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.

Jean de La Fontaine

We must laugh before we are happy, for fear we die before we laugh at all.

Jean de La Fontaine

Neither wealth or greatness render us happy.

Jean de La Fontaine

The argument of the strongest is always the best.

Jean de La Fontaine

A person often meets his destiny on the road he took to avoid it.

Jean de La Fontaine

Everyone calls himself a friend, but only a fool relies on it; nothing is commoner than the name, nothing rarer than the thing.

Jean de La Fontaine

Nothing is more dangerous than a friend without discretion; even a prudent enemy is preferable.

Jean de La Fontaine

Sadness flies away on the wings of time.

Jean de La Fontaine

Better to rely on one powerful king than on many little princes.

Jean de La Fontaine