Better to suffer than to die: that is mankind's motto.
• Book I (1668), fable 16.
• Book I (1668), fable 16.
“
Plutôt souffrir que mourir,
C'est la devise des hommes.
• Variant: Rather suffer than die is man's motto.
— Jean de La Fontaine
What It Means
This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "Plutôt souffrir que mourir,
C'est la devise des hommes.
• Variant: Rather suffer than die is man's motto." in the context of "Better to suffer than to die: that is mankind's motto.
• Book I (1668), fable 16." 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
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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.
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