Michel De Montaigne Quotes

There is nothing so extreme that is not allowed by the custom of some nation or other.

Greatness of soul consists not so much in soaring high and in pressing forward, as in knowing how to adapt and limit oneself.

No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.

I am one of those who hold that poetry is never so blithe as in a wanton and irregular subject.

The least strained and most natural ways of the soul are the most beautiful; the best occupations are the least forced.

A man is not hurt so much by what happens, as by his opinion of what happens.

I love a friendship that flatters itself in the sharpness and vigor of its communications.

Presumption is our natural and original malady. The most vulnerable and frail of all creatures is man, and at the same time the most arrogant.

Whether the events in our life are good or bad, greatly depends on the way we perceive them.

There is nothing in which a horse's power is better revealed than in a neat, clean stop.

It is easier to sacrifice great than little things.

We should rather examine, who is better learned, than who is more learned.

If by being overstudious, we impair our health and spoil our good humor, let us give it up.

To philosophize is to learn to die.

A wise man sees as much as he ought, not as much as he can.

Arts and sciences are not cast in a mould, but are found and perfected by degrees, by often handling and polishing.

Things seem greater by imagination than they are in effect.

The great and glorious masterpiece of humanity is to know how to live with a purpose.

The utility of living consists not in the length of days, but in the use of time; a man may have lived long, and yet lived but a little.

Who does not in some sort live to others, does not live much to himself.

Of the opinions of philosophy I most gladly embrace those that are most solid, that is to say, most human and most our own; my opinions, in conformity with my conduct, are low and humble.

It is fear that I stand most in fear of, in sharpness it exceeds every other feeling.

The world is all a carcass and vanity, The shadow of a shadow, a play And in one word, just nothing.

I see men ordinarily more eager to discover a reason for things than to find out whether the things are so.

I do not speak the minds of others except to speak my own mind better.

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

And if nobody reads me, shall I have wasted my time, when I have beguiled so many idle hours with such pleasant and profitable reflections?

Don't be afraid to say what you are not afraid to think

Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!

It is a rare life that remains orderly even in private.

He loves little who loves by rule.

Laws are often made by fools, and even more often by men who fail in equity because they hate equality: but always by men, vain authorities who can resolve nothing.

The most regular and most perfect soul in the world has but too much to do to keep itself upright from being overthrown by its own weakness.

In my opinion, every rich man is a miser.

Time steals away without any inconvenience.

Why did I love her? Because it was her; because it was me.

God defend me from myself.

Love to his soul gave eyes; he knew things are not as they seem. The dream is his real life; the world around him is the dream.

The man who thinks he knows does not yet know what knowing is

All of the days go toward death and the last one arrives there.

It is a human tendency "to measure truth and error by our capacity."

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

... whoever believes anything esteems that it is a work of charity to persuade another of it.

All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.

A man must always study, but he must not always go to school: what a contemptible thing is an old abecedarian!

Women are more susceptible to pain than to pleasure.

A man must learn to endure patiently what he cannot avoid conveniently.

Our wisdom and deliberation for the most part follow the lead of chance.

It is an absolute perfection and virtually divine to know how to enjoy our being rightfully.

Stupidity and wisdom meet in the same centre of sentiment and resolution, in the suffering of human accidents.