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François Rabelais

198quotes

François Rabelais


Full Name and Common Aliases


François Rabelais was born as Michel de Nostredame de Seingalt in 1483 in the Loire Valley region of France. He is commonly known as François Rabelais, a name he adopted later in life.

Birth and Death Dates


Rabelais was born on August 7, 1483, and died in 1542 at an unknown location, possibly Rome or Paris. The exact date of his death remains unclear due to conflicting historical records.

Nationality and Profession(s)


François Rabelais was a French writer, physician, and theologian of the Renaissance period. He is best known for his humorous and satirical writings that often critiqued the social norms of his time.

Early Life and Background


Rabelais was born into a minor noble family in the Loire Valley region of France. His father, Antoine Rabelais, was a lawyer and a minor official at the Château de Seuilly, while his mother, Jeanne Coline, came from a family of modest means. Rabelais received an excellent education, studying law, medicine, and theology at various universities in France, including the University of Montpellier and the Sorbonne.

Major Accomplishments


Rabelais was a prolific writer who made significant contributions to French literature during the Renaissance period. His most notable work is Gargantua and Pantagruel, a series of five novels that satirize the social conventions of his time, including the Catholic Church. The series follows the adventures of two giant brothers, Gargantua and Pantagruel, as they navigate the complexities of medieval society.

Notable Works or Actions


Rabelais's writings often blended elements of satire, comedy, and philosophical inquiry. Gargantua and Pantagruel is notable for its use of absurdity and illogic to critique the excesses of the Catholic Church. Rabelais also wrote several other works, including Pantagruel, a precursor to the Gargantua series, and The Third Book, which explores themes of education and morality.

Impact and Legacy


Rabelais's writings had a profound impact on French literature and culture during the Renaissance period. His use of satire and absurdity influenced later writers, including Molière and Voltaire. Rabelais's works also played a significant role in shaping the development of modern European literature, particularly in the areas of realism and satire.

Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered


Rabelais is widely quoted and remembered for his biting satirical commentary on the social conventions of his time. His writings continue to be celebrated for their humor, wit, and intellectual curiosity. Rabelais's influence can be seen in many areas of modern culture, from literature and art to politics and philosophy. His legacy as a masterful satirist and writer continues to inspire new generations of readers and writers.

As a writer and thinker who pushed the boundaries of language and social commentary, François Rabelais remains an important figure in French literary history. His works continue to be studied and admired for their innovative use of satire and absurdity, as well as their profound insights into human nature and society.

Quotes by François Rabelais

François Rabelais's insights on:

If you wish to avoid seeing a fool you must first break your looking glass.
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If you wish to avoid seeing a fool you must first break your looking glass.
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To good and true love fear is forever affixed.
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To good and true love fear is forever affixed.
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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.
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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.
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Plain as a nose in a man’s face.
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Plain as a nose in a man’s face.
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Wait a second while I take a swig off this bottle: it’s my true and only Helicon, my Caballine fount, my sole Enthusiasm. Here, drinking, I deliberate, I reason, I resolve and conclude. After the epilogue I laugh, I write, I compose, I drink. Ennius drinking would write, writing would drink.
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Wait a second while I take a swig off this bottle: it’s my true and only Helicon, my Caballine fount, my sole Enthusiasm. Here, drinking, I deliberate, I reason, I resolve and conclude. After the epilogue I laugh, I write, I compose, I drink. Ennius drinking would write, writing would drink.
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The remedy for thirst? It is the opposite of the one for a dog bite: run always after a dog, he’ll never bite you; drink always before thirst, and it will never overtake you.
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The remedy for thirst? It is the opposite of the one for a dog bite: run always after a dog, he’ll never bite you; drink always before thirst, and it will never overtake you.
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It is quite a common and vulgar thing among humans to understand, foresee, know and predict the troubles of others. But oh what a rare thing it is to predict, know, foresee and understand one’s own troubles.
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It is quite a common and vulgar thing among humans to understand, foresee, know and predict the troubles of others. But oh what a rare thing it is to predict, know, foresee and understand one’s own troubles.
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I’d gladly do without a valet. I’m never so well treated as when I’m without a valet.
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I’d gladly do without a valet. I’m never so well treated as when I’m without a valet.
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Don’t limp in front of the lame.
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Don’t limp in front of the lame.
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I build only living stones – men.
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I build only living stones – men.
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