French Proverbs - Free Preview
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Two proverbs, offered freely
Discover the wisdom of French proverbs. Two offered freely — subscribe to unlock the full collection.
I. Better Late Than Never
Mieux vaut tard que jamais
It is far better to accomplish something late than to leave it undone forever. This saying dates back more than 2,200 years to the Roman playwright Titus Maccius Plautus, who wrote in his comedy Mercator (200 BC):
Potius sero quam numquam.
“Rather late than never.”
Its message is one of hope, perseverance, and personal growth.
II. There’s No Point in Running; It’s Better to Start on Time
Rien ne sert de courir ; il faut partir à point
This timeless line comes from Jean de La Fontaine’s fable The Hare and the Tortoise (1668). A hare, overconfident in his speed, stops to rest mid-race and falls asleep — while the tortoise, slow but steady, crosses the finish line first.
Rien ne sert de courir ; il faut partir à point.
“There is no use in running; you must start at the proper time.”
The moral: consistency and good preparation will always outlast haste and overconfidence.
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