Skip to content

Whoever is capable of lying, is unworthy of being reckoned in the number of men; and whoever knows not to be silent, is unworthy of ruling.

— François Fénelon Les aventures de Télémaque (1699)

Quiconque est capable de mentir est indigne d'être compté au nombre des hommes; et quiconque ne sait pas se taire est indigne de gouverner.

Original text (French)

Another quote →

More quotes by François Fénelon

All the human kind is but one family, dispersed over the face of the whole earth; all men are brothers, and ought to love each other as such.

Les aventures de Télémaque (1699)

The good historian is not for any time or any country: while he loves his fatherland, he never flatters it in anything.

In general, those who govern children forgive nothing in them, but everything in themselves.

The presence of God calms the soul, and gives it quiet and repose.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

Let us endeavor to commence every enterprise with a pure view to the glory of God, continue it without distraction, and finish it without impatience.

Dictionary of Burning Words of Brilliant Writers (1895)

All François Fénelon quotes →

Attribution

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