Jean de La Fontaine notes that a secret can feel like a heavy burden, and that people often keep them longer than they should. He also warns that chasing glory on a flowery road is futile, that wealth and greatness rarely bring joy, and that an ignorant friend can be more harmful than a clever enemy.
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Jean de La Fontaine was a librettist from the Kingdom of France, best known for Fables.
Quick Facts About Jean de La Fontaine
Born
July 8, 1621
Died
April 13, 1695
Nationality
Kingdom of France
Profession
Librettist
Notable works
Fables
Spouse
Marie Héricart
About Jean de La Fontaine
He is considered one of the most widely read French poets of his time. His Fables were popular across Europe and were rewritten in many French regional languages, serving as a model for later fabulists.
![“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.]” quote by Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/9dc/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_dangerous_nothing-is-so-dangerous-as-an-ignorant-f_2944492.jpg)
![“Too many expedients may spoil an affair. [Fr., Le trop d'expedients peut gater une affaire.]” quote by Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/feb/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_affair_too-many-expedients-may-spoil-an-affair_1641335.jpg)
![“Imitators are a slavish herd and fools in my opinion. [Fr., C'est un betail servile et sot a mon avis Que les imitateurs.]” quote by Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/5b8/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_fool_imitators-are-a-slavish-herd-and-fools-i_558274.jpg)
![“Tis thus we heed no instincts but our own, Believe no evil, till the evil's done. [Fr., Nous n'ecoutons d'instincts que ceux qui sont les notres. Et ne croyons le mal que quand il est venu.]” quote by Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/544/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_believe_tis-thus-we-heed-no-instincts-but-our-ow_1528977.jpg)
![“Let us not overstrain our talents, lest we do nothing gracefully: a clown, whatever he may do, will never pass for a gentleman. [Fr., Ne forcons point notre talent; Nous ne ferions rien avec grace: Jamais un lourdaud, quoi qu'il fasse, Ne saurit passer pour galant.]” quote by Jean de La Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/7af/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_clown_let-us-not-overstrain-our-talents-lest-w_560631.jpg)
![“How do I hate the tide of vulgar thought! Profane, unjust, with childish folly fraught; It breaks and bends the rays of truth divine, And by its own conceptions measures mine. [...] Hippocrates arrived in season, Just as his patient (void of reason!) Was searching whether reason's home, In talking…” quote by Jean de la Fontaine](https://sms4smile.com/q/img-quotes/6ca/jean-de-la-fontaine-2320_insanity_how-do-i-hate-the-tide-of-vulgar-thought_3003801.jpg)
