Jean de La Fontaine quotes
1621 – 1695 · France, 17th century · Poet and fabulist
About Jean de La Fontaine
Born in 1621 in Château‑Thierry and died in 1695 in Paris, La Fontaine transformed ancient and folk stories into short, pointed poems published from 1668. His Fables combine wit, social observation and moral lessons, and remain central to French literary and cultural tradition.
Works: Fables choisies, mises en vers (The Fables)
Quotes
“Help thyself and Heaven will help thee.”
Source: Fables, "The Carter Stuck in the Mud", Book VI (1668) · Check the source
Verified attributionWhat we know
- What is documented
- The line is the closing moral of La Fontaine’s « Le Chartier embourbé » in the Fables; it appears in editions from 1668 onward.
- What remains uncertain
- Attribution to La Fontaine is secure, though the underlying proverb predated him and some editions differ in fable numbering (17 vs. 18).
La Fontaine places the line as a fable’s moral: you must act before expecting aid. In “The Carter Stuck in the Mud” (Fables, Book VI, 1668) the short sentence captures a practical lesson about initiative and how assistance follows effort.