Michel de Montaigne Quotes

591 Sourced Quotes

How many we know who have fled the sweetness of a tranquil life in their homes, among the friends, to seek the horror of uninhabitable deserts; who have flung themselves into humiliation, degradation, and the contempt of the world, and have enjoyed these and even sought them out.

Michel de Montaigne
Most of our occupations are low comedy.... We must play our part duly, but as the part of a borrowed character. Of the mask and appearance we must not make a real essence, nor of what is foreign what is our very own.

Michel de Montaigne
A little folly is desirable in him that will not be guilty of stupidity.

Michel de Montaigne
Pride and curiosity are the two scourges of our souls. The latter prompts us to poke our noses into everything, and the former forbids us to leave anything unresolved and undecided.

Michel de Montaigne
All the opinions in the world point out that pleasure is our aim.

Michel de Montaigne
The general order of things that takes care of fleas and moles also takes care of men, if they will have the same patience that fleas and moles have, to leave it to itself.

Michel de Montaigne
Lay a beam between these two towers of such width as we need to walk on: there is no philosophical wisdom of such great firmness that it can give us courage to walk on it as we should if it were on the ground.

Michel de Montaigne
Every day I hear stupid people say things that are not stupid.

Michel de Montaigne
It is as difficult to condemn illicit loves by the laws of nature, as it is easy by human laws.

Michel de Montaigne
There is nothing useless in nature; not even uselessness itself

Michel de Montaigne
In plain truth, lying is an accursed vice. We are not men, nor have any other tie upon another, but by our word.

Michel de Montaigne
I know that the arms of friendship are long enough to reach from the one end of the world to the other

Michel de Montaigne
Among the liberal arts, let us begin with the art that liberates us.

Michel de Montaigne
The most manifest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness; her state is like that in the regions above the moon, always clear and serene.

Michel de Montaigne
No matter that we may mount on stilts, we still must walk on our own legs. And on the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.

Michel de Montaigne
I look upon the too good opinion that man has of himself, as the nursing mother of all false opinions, both public and private.

Michel de Montaigne
If I speak of myself in different ways, that is because I look at myself in different ways.

Michel de Montaigne
Once you have decided to keep a certain pile, it is no longer yours; for you can't spend it.

Michel de Montaigne
There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state.

Michel de Montaigne
Experience has further taught me this, that we ruin ourselves by impatience.

Michel de Montaigne
If I were a maker of books I should compile a register, with comments, of different deaths. He who should teach people to die, would teach them to live.

Michel de Montaigne
Those who give the first shock to a state are the first overwhelmed in its ruin; the fruits of public commotion are seldom enjoyed by him who was the first mover; he only beats the water for another's net.

Michel de Montaigne
We are no nearer heaven on the top of Mount Cenis than at the bottom of the sea; take the distance with your astrolabe. They debase God even to the carnal knowledge of women, to so many times, and so many generations.

Michel de Montaigne
I am disgusted with innovation, in whatever guise, and with reason, for I have seen very harmful effects of it.

Michel de Montaigne
We have the pleasures suitable to our lot; let us not usurp those of greatness. Ours are more natural and all the more solid and sure for being humbler. Since we will not do so out of conscience, at least out of ambition let us reject ambition.

Michel de Montaigne