Be advised that all flatterers live at the expense of those who listen to them.
• Book I (1668), fable 2. Variant translations: Learn now that every flatterer lives at the cost of those who give him credit.
In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future — Do not trust flatterers.
Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.
• Book I (1668), fable 2. Variant translations: Learn now that every flatterer lives at the cost of those who give him credit.
In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future — Do not trust flatterers.
Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him.
“
Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute.
— Jean de La Fontaine
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Apprenez que tout flatteur
Vit aux dépens de celui qui l'écoute." in the context of "Be advised that all flatterers live at the expense of those who listen to them.
• Book I (1668), fable 2. Variant translations: Learn now that every flatterer lives at the cost of those who give him credit.
In exchange for your cheese I will give you a piece of advice for the future — Do not trust flatterers.
Every flatterer lives at the expense of him who listens to him." to mean that wisdom is timeless.
Source: Wikiquote: "Jean de La Fontaine" (Quotes, Fables (1668–1679), Book I)
The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app
About Jean de La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine (July 8 1621 – April 13 1695) is a famous French fabulist and the most widely read French poet of the 17th century.
About Jean de La Fontaine
Jean de La Fontaine (July 8 1621 – April 13 1695) is a famous French fabulist and the most widely read French poet of the 17th century.
View all quotes →