Jean de La Fontaine

A pessimist and an optimist, so much the worse; so much the better.

He knows the universe and does not know himself.

We always take credit for the good and attribute the bad to fortune.

The argument of the strongest is always the best.

Everyone has his faults which he continually repeats: neither fear nor shame can cure them.

Help yourself, and Heaven will help you.

Luck's always to blame.

One often has need of one, inferior to himself.

In short, luck's always to blame.

Patience and the passage of time do more than strength and fury.