All things have their ends and cycles. And when they have reached their highest point, they are in their lowest ruin, for they cannot last for long in such a state. Such is the end for those who cannot moderate their fortune and prosperity with reason and temperance.

— François Rabelais

François Rabelais Quotes

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.

— François Rabelais

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

— François Rabelais

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.

— François Rabelais

No clock is more regular than the belly.

— François Rabelais

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

— François Rabelais

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

— François Rabelais

Tell the truth and shame the devil.

— François Rabelais

From the gut comes the strut, and where hunger reigns, strength abstains.

— François Rabelais

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

— François Rabelais

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

— François Rabelais

Misery is the company of lawsuits.

— François Rabelais

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.

— François Rabelais

We will take the good-will for the deed.

— François Rabelais

Such is the nature and make-up of the French that they are only good at the start. Then they are worse than devils, but, given time, they’re less than women.

— François Rabelais

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

— François Rabelais

Thought I to myself, we shall never come off scot-free.

— François Rabelais

Pantagruel was telling me that he believed the queen had given the symbolic word used among her subjects to denote sovereign good cheer, when she said to her tabachins, A panacea.

— François Rabelais

Plain as a nose in a man’s face.

— François Rabelais

Can there be any greater dotage in the world than for one to guide and direct his courses by the sound of a bell, and not by his own judgment.

— François Rabelais

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.

— François Rabelais
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