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That man is prudent who neither hopes nor fears anything from the uncertain events of the future.

— Anatole France

Il est sage de ne mettre ni crainte, ni espérance dans l’avenir incertain.

Original text (French)

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Notes from Wikiquote

L’Étui de nacre: Le Procurateur de Judée [Mother of Pearl: The Procurator of Judea] (1892)

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More quotes by Anatole France

The gods conform scrupulously to the sentiments of their worshippers: they have reasons for so doing.

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To accomplish great things we must not only act, but also dream; not only plan, but also believe.

Archangel Michael, and you, Powers, Thrones, and Dominations, swear all of you to be faithful to your God.

The Revolt of the Angels (1914)

Innocence most often is a good fortune and not a virtue.

Irony is the gaiety of reflection and the joy of wisdom.

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Anatole France (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.