Francois Rabelais Men Quotations

Time, which wears down and diminishes all things, augments and increases good deeds, because a good turn liberally offered to a reasonable man grows continually through noble thought and memory.

Friends, you will notice that in this world there are many more ballocks than men. Remember this.

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

There is no truer cause of unhappiness amongst men than, where naturally expecting charity and benevolence, they receive harm and vexation.

Men that are free, well-born, well-bred, and conversant in honest companies, have naturally an instinct and spur that prompteth them unto virtuous actions, and withdraws them from vice, which is called honour. Those same men, when by base subjection and constraint they are brought under and kept down, turn aside from that noble disposition, by which they formerly were inclined to virtue, to shake off and break that bond of servitude, wherein they are so tyrannously enslaved; for it is agreeable with the nature of man to long after things forbidden, and to desire what is denied us.

Time, which gnaws and diminisheth all things else, augments and increaseth benefits; because a noble action of liberality, done to a man of reason, doth grow continually by his generous thinking of it and remembering it.

To laugh is proper to man.

I'd rather write about laughing than crying, For laughter makes men human, and courageous.

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

Never did a great man hate good wine.

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

No noble man ever hated good wine.

Few and signally blessed are those whom Jupiter has destined to be cabbage-planters. For they've always one foot on the ground andthe other not far from it. Anyone is welcome to argue about felicity and supreme happiness. But the man who plants cabbages I now positively declare to be the happiest of mortals.

Oh how unhappy is the prince served by such men who are so easily corrupted.

Plain as a nose in a man's face.

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

I build only living stones--men.

So much is a man worth as he esteems himself.