Permanence of instinct must go with permanence of form...The history of the present must teach us the history of the past. Jean-Henri Fabre More Quotes by Jean-Henri Fabre More Quotes From Jean-Henri Fabre History celebrates the battlefields whereon we meet our death, but scorns to speak of the plowed fields whereby we thrive. It knows the names of the king's bastards but cannot tell us the origin of wheat. This is the way of human folly. Jean-Henri Fabre kings names food Seek those who find your road agreeable, your personality and mind stimulating, your philosophy acceptable, and your experience helpful. Let those who do not, seek their own kind. Jean-Henri Fabre personality mind philosophy History records the names of royal bastards, but cannot tell us the origin of wheat. Jean-Henri Fabre wheat records names In many cases, ignorance is a good thing : the mind retains its freedom of investigation and does not stray along roads that lead nowhither, suggested by one's reading. I have experienced this once again. ... Yes, ignorance can have its advantages; the new is found far from the beaten track. Jean-Henri Fabre track ignorance reading We have within us, from the start, that which will distinguish us from the vulgar herd. Jean-Henri Fabre vulgar herds All failed lovers rewrite the script, as if one sexual detail or another might have tipped the balance of pain into destiny, either tragic or miraculous. History record the names of royal bastards, but cannot tell us the origin of wheat. Jean-Henri Fabre destiny pain names If there is one vegetable which is God-given, it is the haricot bean. Jean-Henri Fabre beans given vegetables Let us turn elsewhere, to the wasps and bees, who unquestionably come first in the laying up of a heritage for their offspring. Jean-Henri Fabre heritage bees firsts The common people have no history: persecuted by the present, they cannot think of preserving the memory of the past. Jean-Henri Fabre memories past thinking Let us dig our furrow in the fields of the commonplace. Jean-Henri Fabre corny commonplace fields Without feeling abashed by my ignorance, I confess that I am absolutely unable to say. In the absence of an appearance of learning, my answer has at least one merit, that of perfect sincerity. Jean-Henri Fabre ignorance perfect feelings
