38 Francois Rabelais Quotes

Francois Rabelais quotes

1. Je m'en vais chercher un grand peut-etre; tirez le rideau, la farce est jouee.

2. Je n'ai rien vaillant; je dois beaucoup; je donne le reste aux pauvres.

3. [Mais par ce que selon le sage Salomon,] Sapience n'entre point en ame malivole, & science sans conscience n'est que ruyne de l'ame.

4. Pour ce que rire est le propre de l'homme.

5. [Puis pour curieuse leczon, & meditation frequente] rompre l'os, & sugcer la substantificque mouelle.

6. Les heures sont faictez pour l'homme, & non l'homme pour les heures.

7. Et guerre faicte sans bonne provision d'argent, n'a qu'un souspirail de vigueur. Les nerfz des batailles sont les pecunes.

8. Certaine gayete d'esprit conficte en mespris des choses fortuites.

9. A son [Timon le Misanthrope] exemple ie denonce a ces calumniateurs diaboliques, que tous ayent a se pendre dedans le dernier chanteau de ceste lune. Ie les fourniray de licolz.

10. Translation: Following his example, I encourage all these diabolical calumniators to go hang themselves before the last moon's quarter is done. I will supply the rope.

11. ...l'estomach affame n'a poinct d'aureilles, il n'oyt goutte.

12. Appetite comes with eating...but the thirst goes away with drinking.

13. How shall I be able to rule over others, that have not full power and command of myself?

14. Fais ce que voudras.

15. Subject to a kind of disease, which at that time they called lack of money.

16. So much is a man worth as he esteems himself.

17. He that has patience may compass anything.

18. We will take the good will for the deed.

19. Speak the truth and shame the Devil.

20. Plain as the nose in a man's face.

21. Looking as like...as one pea does like another.

1. A good intention does not mean honor. [Fr., A bon entendeur ne faut qu'un parole.]

2. If in your soil it takes, to heaven A thousand thousand thanks be given; And say with France, it goodly goes, Where the Pantagruelion grows.

3. A child is not a vase to be filled, but a fire to be lit.

4. A certain jollity of mind, pickled in the scorn of fortune.

5. Indeed, said the monk, a mass, a matins, and vespers well rung are half-said.

6. I do not drink more than a sponge.

7. I recognize in [my readers] a specific form and individual property, which our predecessors called Pantagruelism, by means of which they never take anything the wrong way that they know to stem from good, honest and loyal hearts.

8. Tell the truth and shame the devil.

9. Half the world does not know how the other half lives.

10. But where are the snows of last year? That was the greatest concern of Villon, the Parisian poet.

11. The Lord forbid that I should be out of debt, as if indeed I could not be trusted.

12. Science sans conscience n' est que le ruine de l'âme. Knowledge without conscience is but the ruine of the soule.

13. I've often heard it said, as the common proverb goes, that a fool can teach a wise man well.

14. One falls to the ground in trying to sit on two stools.

15. Go, all of you poor people, in the name of God the Creator, and let him forever be your guide. And henceforth, do not be beguiledby these idle and useless pilgrimages. See to your families, and work, each one of you, in your vocation, raise your children, and live as the good Apostle Paul teaches you.

16. Debts and lies are generally mixed together.

17. If you wish to be good "Pantagruelists" (which is to say, live in peace, joy, health, and always dining well), never put too much faith in people who look out through a hole.