“ It is a very ordinary and common thing amongst men to conceive, foresee, know, and presage the misfortune, bad luck, or disaster of another; but to have the understanding, providence, knowledge, and prediction of a man’s own mishap is very scarce and rare to be found anywhere. ”
François Rabelais, Gargantua and Pantagruel (1534). copy citation
| Author | François Rabelais |
|---|---|
| Source | Gargantua and Pantagruel |
| Topic | disaster luck |
| Date | 1534 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Sir Thomas Urquhart of Cromarty and Peter Antony Motteux |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/1200/1200-h/1200-h.htm |
Context
“Come along, my Carpalin, and you, Friar John, my leather-dresser. Good morrow to you all, my good lords; I have dreamed too much to have so little. Let us go. Panurge had no sooner done speaking than Epistemon with a loud voice said these words: It is a very ordinary and common thing amongst men to conceive, foresee, know, and presage the misfortune, bad luck, or disaster of another; but to have the understanding, providence, knowledge, and prediction of a man’s own mishap is very scarce and rare to be found anywhere. This is exceeding judiciously and prudently deciphered by Aesop in his Apologues, who there affirmeth that every man in the world carrieth about his neck a wallet, in the fore-bag whereof were contained the faults and mischances of others always exposed to his view and knowledge;”
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