Do you know why people love inspirational quotes so much? A quick look at any Instagram feed is enough to be convinced that there’s something universally compelling about them. We print them on T-shirts, display them on our walls or fridges, and even tattoo them on our skin.
I love to learn interesting quotes about a language I’m studying. Not just to memorize them and impress locals (although it can be a neat trick!), but to learn what they tell me about their culture and values.
This article on famous French quotes aims to give you the same immersive learning experience…”Tell me who you quote, I will tell you who you are.” We’ve gathered for you the best and most famous French quotes about life, love, and much more. Consider it a concentrate of French wisdom.
P.S.: Be sure to stick with us until the end for a bonus list of some timeless classic quotes from French cinema.
Table of Contents
- Quotes About Wisdom
- Quotes About Love
- Quotes About Time
- Quotes About Relationships
- Quotes From French Movies
- Le Mot De La Fin
1. Quotes About Wisdom
If you’re looking for some French quotes to live by, you may discover something valuable in the wise words of these notorious people from France’s past.
#1
| French | La difficulté de réussir ne fait qu’ajouter à la nécessité d’entreprendre. |
| Literally | “It is so hard to succeed that it makes it even more necessary to take action.” |
| Pierre-Augustin Caron de Beaumarchais, the author of this quote, is quite the character. Born in Paris in 1732, he was a writer, playwright, musician, and businessman. He created the Société des Auteurs, the first official organization for the protection of authors and copyright. When he wasn’t busy managing four careers, he was also working for the King as both a spy and arms dealer. He was instrumental in the American and French revolutions. This man’s life was so full of action and adventures that it probably served as an inspiration for the dramatic stories he’s famous for. | |
#2
| French | La vérité vaut bien qu’on passe quelques années sans la trouver. |
| Literally | “Truth is more valuable if it takes you a few years to find it.” |
| This is a quote from Jules Renard, a French writer from the eighteenth century. | |
#3
| French | Il faut bonne mémoire après qu’on a menti. |
| Literally | “A liar should have a good memory.” |
| This is a quote from the play Le menteur (1644) by Pierre Corneille, one of the most famous playwrights and poets of his generation. His five-act tragicomedy, Le Cid, is considered his finest work. It’s written entirely in rhyming couplets with alternating masculine and feminine rhymes, as was typical of French dramas at the time. | |
#4
| French | Qui craint de souffrir, il souffre déjà de ce qu’il craint. |
| Literally | “He who fears suffering is already suffering that which he fears.” |
| One of the most influential thinkers of his time, the very quotable French writer Jean de la Fontaine was a widely famous poet and fabulist in the seventeenth century. His most notorious work is Les Fables, a collection of short tales that features animals as characters and illustrates various moral lessons. | |
#5
| French | Science sans conscience n’est que ruine de l’âme. |
| Literally | “Science without conscience is nothing but the ruin of the soul.” |
| This quote by Rabelais from the novel Pantagruel could be considered the beginnings of bioethics, a discipline that tries to reconcile scientific capabilities and their moral acceptability. | |
- → Not sufficiently inspired yet? Make sure you visit our list of the Top 11 Quotes About Success.
Science sans conscience n’est que ruine de l’âme.
2. Quotes About Love
Are you in love? A hopeless romantic? A poet at heart? Then you’ll certainly appreciate the beauty of these French quotes about love.
#6
| French | Le cœur a ses raisons que la raison ne connaît point. |
| Literally | “The heart has its reasons which reason knows nothing of.” |
| This is a quote from the French mathematician, physicist, inventor, philosopher, moralist, and theologist Blaise Pascal. Yes, that’s quite an impressive resume. The man has left such a wealth of insightful research and writings in all of these fields that it’s only fair to give him all due credit. | |
#7
| French | Un seul être vous manque et tout est dépeuplé. |
| Literally | “Only one person is missing, and the whole world seems empty.” |
| This is a quote from Alphonse de Lamartine, a French poet, writer, and politician. Lamartine is considered to be the first Romantic poet. | |
#8
| French | La vie est une fleur dont l’amour est le miel. |
| Literally | “Life is a flower of which love is the honey.” |
| Here’s a quote from Victor Hugo, a French poet and novelist of the aforementioned Romantic movement. | |
#9
| French | Aimer sans être aimé, c’est comme allumer une cigarette avec une allumette déjà éteinte. |
| Literally | “To love without being loved is like lighting a cigarette with a matchstick that has gone out.” |
| This is a quote from George Sand, one of the most prominent writers of the Romantic movement in the nineteenth century. Don’t be fooled by her pen name, “George”: Aurore Dupin was a woman, and what we would call a feminist in today’s day and age. She was primarily known for the exceptional quality of her writing, but also made a name for herself by wearing male clothes (in a time where it was not exactly socially acceptable) and smoking in public. You’ve heard this quote a few times if you ever had the chance to watch the excellent Moulin Rouge from Australian director Baz Luhrmann. | |
#10
| French | Aimer, ce n’est pas se regarder l’un l’autre, c’est regarder ensemble dans la même direction. |
| Literally | “Love doesn’t mean gazing at each other, but looking, together, in the same direction.” |
| This is a quote from Antoine Marie Jean-Baptiste Roger, comte de Saint-Exupéry, but you may just say Saint-Exupéry. Internationally, he’s mainly remembered for his novel Le Petit Prince (“The Little Prince”). | |
- → Find more bittersweet inspiration in our free vocabulary lists featuring a wide collection of French Quotes About Love and French Break-Up Quotes.
Le seul vrai langage au monde est un baiser. (Alfred de Musset)
(“The only true language in the world is a kiss.”)
3. Quotes About Time
Time is what binds us to our own mortality. The following French quotes about life express the significance of time, how we use it, and how it affects us.
#11
| French | Le temps est un grand maître, dit-on. Le malheur est qu’il tue ses élèves. |
| Literally | “We say that time is a great teacher. It’s too bad that it kills all its students.” |
| This is a quote from Hector Berlioz, a composer and conductor of the nineteenth century. | |
#12
| French | Il y a des gens qui ne savent pas perdre leur temps tout seul. Ils sont le fléau des gens occupés. |
| Literally | “Some people can’t waste time on their own. They’re the bane of the busy ones.” |
| Louis de Bonald, the author of this quote, was a philosopher and political figure of the nineteenth century. He’s remembered as one of the founders of sociology. | |
#13
| French | Il ne faut avoir aucun regret pour le passé, aucun remords pour le présent, et une confiance inébranlable pour l’avenir. |
| Literally | “You should have no regrets about the past, no remorse about the present, and unwavering confidence in the future.” |
| This quote is from Jean-Jaurès, a major political figure from the late nineteenth century. Among other accomplishments, he’s one of the main contributors to the 1905 law on the separation of the churches and the state. This law would then become the backbone of the French concept of laïcité (“secularism”), which is today a crucial part of our national identity. | |
#14
| French | Ceux qui font mauvais usage de leur temps sont les premiers à se plaindre de sa brièveté. |
| Literally | “Those who make bad use of their time are the first to complain about its brevity.” |
| This is from Jean de La Bruyère, a French moralist from the seventeenth century. His most notorious work, Les Caractères, is an essay on the mental traits of individuals and how they interact with each other. | |
#15
| French | C’est un malheur qu’il y a trop peu d’intervalles entre le temps où l’on est trop jeune, et le temps où l’on est trop vieux. |
| Literally | “It’s a shame that there is too little time between when we’re too young and when we’re too old.” |
| Montesquieu was a political thinker and philosopher born in the late seventeenth century. He’s known for his thoughts on the separation of powers that would later influence the development of Western democracies. | |
- → Whether you want to complain or philosophize about it, you’ll be glad you stopped by our free vocabulary list on Time, with examples and audio recordings.
Ceux qui font mauvais usage de leur temps sont les premiers à se plaindre de sa brièveté.
4. Quotes About Relationships
The following French quotes on friendship and other relationships underline the simple truths and concepts behind one of life’s most crucial elements.
#16
| French | Un homme seul est toujours en mauvaise compagnie. |
| Literally | “A lone man is always in poor company.” |
| This is a quote from Paul Valéry, a French poet and philosopher who is best known for his glorious mustache. | |
#17
| French | L’enfer, c’est les autres. |
| Literally | “Hell is other people.” |
| This is one of the most famous quotes from Jean-Paul Sartre, from his play Huis Clos (1943). Huis Clos tells the story of three damned souls who have just been brought to Hell. As they get acquainted and try to figure out how they ended up there, they realize that there’s no torturer nor medieval devices, and that their punishment is to endure each other for all eternity. Here is the full quote: Alors, c’est ça l’enfer. Je n’aurais jamais cru… Vous vous rappelez : le soufre, le bûcher, le gril… Ah ! Quelle plaisanterie. Pas besoin de gril : l’enfer c’est les autres. | |
#18
| French | Il est bon de traiter l’amitié comme les vins et de se méfier des mélanges. |
| Literally | “It’s good to handle friendship like wine and to be wary of mixtures.” |
| This quote is from Colette, a French author, actress, and journalist born in the late nineteenth century. | |
#19
| French | Ce qui rend les amitiés indissolubles et double leur charme est un sentiment qui manque à l’amour : la certitude. |
| Literally | “What makes friendships unbreakable and doubles their charm is a feeling that is missing from love: certainty.” |
| This is a quote from Honoré de Balzac, one of the most prominent writers of the nineteenth century with a huge biography of more than ninety novels. | |
#20
| French | L’amitié fait deviner des choses dont on ne parle pas. |
| Literally | “Friendship makes you guess unspoken truths.” |
| This is a quote from Les Pays Étrangers (1982) by Jean Ethier-Blais, a Canadian writer and professor of French literature. | |
- → For more insightful quotes on this topic, be sure to visit our list of quotes on Friendship. It’s freely available on FrenchPod101.com.
L’amitié fait deviner les choses dont on ne parle pas.
5. Quotes From French Movies
To close, let’s look at some famous quotes in French from top movies!
#21
| French | Une femme sans amour, c’est comme une fleur sans soleil, ça dépérit. |
| Literally | “A woman without love is like a flower without the sun, she will wither.” |
| Le fabuleux destin d’Amélie Poulain (“The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain”), or Amélie (2001) in the U.S., is a fantastic movie full of memorable quotes, by director Jean-Pierre Jeunet. With its unique tone and aesthetic, it’s a must-watch, especially if you’re looking for movies to practice your French. | |
#22
| French | Les cons ça ose tout. C’est même à ça qu’on les reconnait. |
| Literally | “Fools dare everything. That’s how you recognize them.” |
| Les tontons flingueurs (“The Gunslingers Uncles”), or Monsieur Gangster in the U.S., is a cult classic crime comedy from 1963 with more witty quotes than I can count. It was written by Michel Audiard, who’s still considered one of the best dialogue writers in French cinema. | |
#23
| French | On ne peut pas faire l’amour du matin au soir. C’est pour ça qu’on a inventé le travail. |
| Literally | “You cannot make love all day long. That’s why we’ve invented work.” |
| This is from the movie L’Homme qui aimait les femmes, or The Man Who Loved Women in the U.S. (1977), by François Truffaut. François Truffaut was one of the founders of the French New Wave or Nouvelle Vague, a French film movement that rejected traditional filmmaking convention in favor of a more experimental style. | |
#24
| French | Et dites-vous bien dans la vie, ne pas reconnaître son talent, c’est favoriser la réussite des médiocres. |
| Literally | “Not acknowledging your talent is to encourage the success of mediocre people.” |
| This is a quote from Le cave se rebiffe, or The Counterfeiters of Paris in the U.S., by Gilles Grangier, with legendary French actor Jean Gabin. | |
#25
| French | Moi, Monsieur, je suis ancien combattant, patron de bistrot et militant socialiste, c’est vous dire si des conneries dans ma vie j’en ai entendu quelques-unes. |
| Literally | “I, sir, am a war veteran, bartender, and socialist activist. So you can imagine that in my life, I’ve heard my fair share of nonsense.” |
| This is from Un idiot à Paris (“An Idiot in Paris”), a 1967 movie from Serge Korber. | |
- → If my movie quotes made you itch for a big-screen experience in France, check out our Movie-Going vocabulary list to come prepared!
Time for watching some French movies.
6. Le Mot De La Fin
In this guide, you’ve learned the best quotes from French authors in a variety of categories, from love quotes to quotes about life and time, and even some of the finest lines from classic movies.
Did we forget an amazing French quote you’ve heard about? Don’t hesitate to share it in the comments below!
Going further, FrenchPod101 also has tons of vocabulary lists with audio recordings and free resources to boost your studies and keep your French learning fresh and entertaining. Quotes are even better when you can translate them yourself.
Remember that you can also use our Premium PLUS service, MyTeacher, to get personal one-on-one coaching and practice new words and structures with a private teacher. In addition to providing assignments, personalized exercises, and recorded audio samples just for you, your teacher will review your work and help improve your pronunciation.
Happy learning on FrenchPod101!
About the Author: Born and bred in the rainy north of France, Cyril Danon has been bouncing off various jobs before he left everything behind to wander around the wonders of the World. Now, after quenching his wanderlust for the last few years, he’s eager to share his passion for languages.
Posted by FrenchPod101.com in French Culture, French Language, French Phrases, French Translation, French Words, Learn French
Blog Posts
- Popular
- Recent
-
How To Say ‘Thank you’ in French
November 27, 2017
In most cultures, it is custom to express gratitude in some way or another. The dictionary defines gratitude as...
-
How to Say “Hello” in French: Break the Ice Like a Pro!
January 12, 2019
We all know the importance of first impressions, but do you know how long it really takes for a person to make a...
-
How to Say I Love You in French – Romantic Word List
February 7, 2019
Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that...
-
The French National Anthem: La Marseillaise
November 4, 2022
Have you ever heard La Marseillaise, the French national anthem? The music is beautiful, but the lyrics are not easy...
-
60 Classroom Phrases for Studying or Teaching in France
October 21, 2022
Are you planning on studying or teaching in France? Do you know the most common classroom phrases in French for...
-
The Only Guide to French Restaurant Phrases You’ll Ever Need
September 9, 2022
Going to a restaurant in a foreign country when you don’t speak the language fluently can be unnecessarily stressful...
Related Posts
How to Say I Love You in French – Romantic Word List
Do you often feel lonely and sad? Do you long for romance and are willing to do whatever it takes to meet that specia...
How to Say “Hello” in French: Break the Ice Like a Pro!
We all know the importance of first impressions, but do you know how long it really takes for a person to make a ju...
How To Say ‘Thank you’ in French
In most cultures, it is custom to express gratitude in some way or another. The dictionary defines gratitude as f...
How to Celebrate April Fools’ Day in French
Most everyone is familiar with this day, as it is celebrated nearly everywhere the world. Yet, when exactly is Ap...
See Previous Post
See Next Post
Categories
- Community Spotlight
- Forum Spotlight
- French Culture
- French Bazaar!!
- French Holidays
- French Language
- French Translation
- General Announcements
- Scheduled Maintenance
- Guest Bloggers
- Learn French
- Advanced French
- French Grammar
- French Phrases
- French Podcasts
- French Words
- Media Coverage
- Newsletter
- Site Features
- Feature Spotlight
- Tutorials
- Success Stories
- Teaching French
- Team FrenchPod101
- Twitter Lessons
- Uncategorized
- Word of the Day
- Working in France
- Immigration, Visas
Copyright © 2024 Innovative Language Learning. All rights reserved. FrenchPod101.com Privacy Policy | Terms of Use.
This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
