Francois Rabelais Quotes

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

The Devil was sick - the Devil a monk would be, The Devil was well the devil a monk was he

I am going to seek a grand perhaps.

If you understand why a monkey in a family is always mocked and harassed, you understand why monks are rejected by all--both old and young.

Nature made the day for exercise, work and seeing to one's business; and ... it provides us with a candle, which is to say the bright and joyous light of the sun.

It is better to write of laughter than of tears, for laughter is the property of man.

Petite ville, grand renom. Small town, great renown.

I won't undertake war until I have tried all the arts and means of peace.

Pantagruelism is a certain gaitey of the spirit consisting in a disdain for the hazards of fortune.

Believe me, 'tis a godlike thing to lend; to owe is a heroic virtue.

When I drink, I think; and when I think, I drink.

A habit does not a monk make.

I never sleep comfortably except when I am at sermon or when I pray to God.

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

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

Early rising is no pleasure; early drinking's just the measure.

Death is the vast perhaps.

The right moment wears a full head of hair: when it has been missed, you can't get it back; it's bald in the back of the head and never turns around.

I drink no more than a sponge.

A little rain beats down a big wind. Long drinking bouts break open the tun(der).

I am going to seek a great purpose, draw the curtain, the farce is played.

Frugality is for the vulgar.

I place no hope in my strength, nor in my works: but all my confidence is in God my protector, who never abandons those who have put all their hope and thought in him.

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

Everything comes in time to those who can wait.

Do you know what Agelisas said, when he was asked why the great city of Lacedomonie was not girded with walls? Because, pointing out the inhabitants and citizens of the city, so expert in military discipline and so strong and well armed: "Here," he said, "are the walls of the city," meaning that there is no wall but of bones, and that towns and cities can have no more secure nor stronger wall than the virtue of their citizens and inhabitants.

When undertaking marriage, everyone must be the judge of his own thoughts, and take counsel from himself.

I urge you to spend your youth profitably in study and virtue.... In brief, let me see in you an abyss of knowledge.

One inch of joy surmounts of grief a span, Because to laugh is proper to the man.

There is nothing holy nor sacred to those who have abandoned God and reason in order to follow their perverse desires.

He who has not an adventure has not horse or mule, so says Solomon.--Who is too adventurous, said Echephron,--loses horse and mule.

Misery is the company of lawsuits.

How do you know antiquity was foolish? How do you know the present is wise? Who made it foolish? Who made it wise?

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

I know of a charm by way of a prayer that will preserve a man from the violence of guns and all manner of fire-weapons and engines but it will do me no good because I do not believe it

Bring down the curtain, the farce is over

Gestures, in love, are incomparably more attractive, effective and valuable than words.

I never sleep in comfort save when I am hearing a sermon or praying to God.

We always long for the forbidden things, and desire what is denied us.

Keep running after a dog and he will never bite you.

It is folly to put the plough in front of the oxen.

A man of good sense always believes what he is told, and what he finds written down.

Hungry bellies have no cars.

I never drink without a thirst, either present or future.

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.

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.

In this mortal life, nothing is blessed throughout.

Giving words [is] an act of lovers.