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| Michel Eyquem de Montaigne was born February 1533 died September 1592 and was a famous French philosopher and author |
Quotes by Michel Montaigne
Every man may speak truly, but to speak methodically, prudently, and fully is a talent that few men have.Virtue cannot be followed but for herself, and if one sometimes borrows her mask to some other purpose, she presently pulls it away again.
There is, nevertheless, a certain respect and a general duty of humanity that ties us, not only to beasts that have life and sense, but even to trees and plants.
One open way of speaking introduces another open way of speaking, and draws out discoveries, like wine and love.
The knowledge of courtesy and good manners is a very necessary study. It is like grace and beauty, that which begets liking and an inclination to love one another at the first sight.
Getting married is very much like going to a restaurant with friends. You order what you want then when you see what the other person has; you wish you had ordered that.
The honor we receive from those that fear us, is not honor; those respects are paid to royalty and not to me.
How many worthy men have we known to survive their own reputation, who have seen and suffered the honor and glory most justly acquired in their youth, extinguished in their own presence?
I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare; and I dare a little the more as I grow older.
There never were in the world, two opinions alike, any more than two hairs, or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity.
I conceive that pleasures are to be avoided if greater pains be the consequence, and pains to be coveted that will terminate in greater pleasures.
Marriage can be compared to a cage: birds outside it despair to enter, and birds within, to escape.
I care not so much what I am in the opinion of others, as what I am in my own; I would be rich of myself, and not by borrowing.
It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them; it is still with our legs that we must walk. And on the highest throne in the world we are still sitting on our own ass.
When I play with my cat, who knows whether I do not make her more sport than she makes me? We mutually divert one another with our monkey tricks.
Greatness of soul consists not so much in soaring high and in pressing forward, as in knowing how to adapt and limit oneself.
The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice, cruelty, according to their power.
Obstinacy and dogmatism are the surest signs of stupidity. Is there anything more confident, resolute, disdainful, grave and serious than an ass?
If a man should importune me to give a reason why I loved him, I find it could no otherwise be expressed, than by making answer; because it was he, because it was I.
The world is but a school of inquisition; it is not who shall enter the ring, but who shall run the best courses.
There is no man so good, who, were he to submit all his thoughts and actions to the laws would not deserve hanging ten times in his life.
The oldest and best known evil was ever more supportable than one that was new and untried.
The great and glorious masterpiece of man is to know how to live to purpose.
We are never present with, but always beyond ourselves; fear, desire, hope, still push us on toward the future.
Dreams are faithful interpreters of our inclinations; but there is art required to sort and understand them.
Wisdom is a solid and entire building, of which every piece keeps its place and bears its mark.
I must accommodate my history to the hour: I may presently change, not only by fortune, but also by intention.
A lady could not boast of her chastity who was never tempted.
There is more ado to interpret interpretations than to interpret the things, and more books upon books than upon all other subjects; we do nothing but comment upon one another.
There is, nevertheless, a certain respect and a general duty of humanity that ties us, not only to beasts that have life and sense, but even to trees and plants.
The souls of emperors and cobblers are cast in the same mould… The same reason that makes us wrangle with a neighbor causes a war betwixt princes.
All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.
All permanent decisions are made in a temporary state of mind.
He who should teach men to die would at the same time teach them to live.
I have never seen a greater monster or miracle in the world than myself.
I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare; and I dare a little the more as I grow older.
Let us a little permit nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we.
Man in sooth is a marvelous, vain, fickle, and unstable subject.
Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a worm, and yet he will be making gods by dozens.
Nothing is so firmly believed as that which we least know.
To know much is often the cause of doubting more.
