Gargantua and Pantagruel Quotes

“Come, pluck up a good heart; speak the truth and shame the devil.”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:truth

“For how shall I be able, said he, to rule over others, that have not full power and command of myself?”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:power

“Take heed, I have often heard it said in a vulgar proverb, the wise may be instructed by a fool.”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:wisdomfoolishness

“Then I began to think that it is very true which is commonly said, that the one half of the world knoweth not how the other half liveth; seeing none before myself had ever written of that country, wherein are above five-and-twenty kingdoms...”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:world

“Coin is the sinews of war.”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:warmoney

“This notwithstanding, I will not undertake war, until I have first tried all the ways and means of peace: that I resolve upon.”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:warpeace

“Believe me, it is a divine thing to lend,—to owe, an heroic virtue.”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:virtue

“We'll take the goodwill for the deed, and thank you as much as if we had.”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:action

“This is as plain as a nose in a man's face; you know it by experience; you see it.”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:experience

“Well, quoth Friar John, as good sit still as rise up and fall; what cannot be cured must be endured.”

― François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel

topic:suffering