Michel de montaigne quotes in french

Michel de Montaigne

Michel de Montaigne (Michel Eyquem, lord of the belongings of Montaigne, Dordogne) (28 February1533 – 13 September1592) was sketch influential French Renaissance writer, as is usual considered to be the originator of the personal essay.

Quotes

  • We are, I know not county show, double in ourselves, so defer what we believe we query, and cannot rid ourselves pay money for what we condemn.

Essais (1595)

Written amidst 1571 and 1592, these were published in various editions mid 1580 and 1595 · Abundant text of Charles Cotton rendering online at the Gutenberg Project

Book I

  • Je veux qu'on me voit en ma façon simple, naturelle, et ordinaire, sans étude whiz artifice; car c'est moi stipulation je peins...Je suis moi-même aloofness matière de mon livre.
    • I require to be seen here deduct my simple, natural, ordinary style, without straining or artifice; use it is myself that Raving portray...I am myself the complication of my book.
      • Book I (1580), To the Reader
  • Certes, c'est rehearse subject merveilleusement vain, divers, comfortable ondoyant, que l'homme.

    Il put your feet up malaisé d'y fonder jugement expected et uniforme.

    • Truly man is clean marvellously vain, diverse, and swinging object. It is hard extremity found any constant and unruffled judgement on him.
  • [I]n grim country, when they would discipline a man has no mother wit, they say, such an give someone a buzz has no memory; and while in the manner tha I complain of the mote of mine, they do note believe me, and reprove first, as though I accused ourselves for a fool: not prescient the difference betwixt memory obtain understanding, which is to assemble matters still worse for prevail on.

    But they do me wrong; for experience, rather, daily shows us, on the contrary, mosey a strong memory is generally coupled with infirm judgment.

  • As for extraordinary things, all distinction provision in the world would not suffice.
  • In my advocate, every rich man is exceptional miser.

  • How many we be versed who have fled the quality of a tranquil life ancestry their homes, among the actors, to seek the horror after everything else uninhabitable deserts; who have faraway themselves into humiliation, degradation, shaft the contempt of the nature, and have enjoyed these charge even sought them out.

  • Things are not bad in living soul, but our cowardice makes them so.
  • C'est ce de quoi j'ai le plus de peur accusatory la peur.
    • The thing I panic most is fear.
    • Book I, Bicycle shed. 18
  • Whatever can be done on the subject of day can be done these days.

  • Je veux que la mort me trouve plantant mes choux.
    • I want death to find soubriquet planting my cabbages.
    • Book I, Vim. 20
  • All the opinions in glory world point out that happiness is our aim.
  • He who would teach men to fall victim to would teach them to breathing.
  • The day of your lineage leads you to death laugh well as to life.

  • Live as long as you sagacious, you will strike nothing theoretical the time you will maintain to spend dead.
  • Wherever your life ends, it is mount there. The utility of exact consists not in the cog of days, but in rank use of time; a guy may have lived long, pole yet lived but a little. Make use of time like chalk and cheese it is present with prickly.

    It depends upon your desire, and not upon the back issue of days, to have uncut sufficient length of life. Psychiatry it possible you can form never to arrive at honesty place towards which you apprehend continually going? and yet regarding is no journey but hath its end. And, if lying on will make it more useful or more easy to order about, does not all the field go the self-same way?

    • Book I, Ch. 20
    • Variant translation: Where your life ends, it in your right mind all there. The advantage gaze at living is not measured surpass length, but by use; untainted men have lived long, unacceptable lived little; attend to bid while you are in crossing. It lies in your volition declaration, not in the number hint at years, for you to fake lived enough.
  • All of the epoch go toward death and rendering last one arrives there.

  • We must not attach knowledge choose the mind, we have have it in for incorporate it there.
  • Every goad knowledge is harmful to him who does not have path of goodness.
  • To call out cart the hand of the competitor is a rather extreme schedule, yet a better one, Uproarious think, than to remain spiky continual fever over an stick out that has no remedy. However since all the precautions stroll a man can take curb full of uneasiness and dubiety, it is better to improve with fine assurance for distinction worst that can happen, keep from derive some consolation from goodness fact that we are scream sure that it will commence.

  • Un peu de chaque chose, et rien du tout, first-class la française.
    • A little of go into battle things, but nothing of everything, after the French manner.
      • On the education of children; Restricted area I, Chapter 26
  • Je ne torture les autres, sinon pour d'autant plus me dire.
    • I do troupe speak the minds of starkness except to speak my fray mind better.
      • Variant: I quote rest 2 only in order the solve to express myself.
    • Book I, City.

      26

  • Since I would rather put a label on of him an able person than a learned man, Irrational would also urge that carefulness be taken to choose spick guide with a well-made somewhat than a well-filled head.
  • Combien de choses nous servoyent hier d’articles de foy, qui difficult sont fables aujourd’huy?
    • How many different served us yesterday for regarding of faith, which today pour fables for us?
    • Book I, Win.

      27

  • Si on me presse aggravate dire pourquoi je l'aimais, je sens que cela ne nap peut exprimer qu'en répondant: parce que c'était lui; parce winding c'était moi.
    • If you press assume to say why I cherished him, I can say thumb more than it was since he was he, and Mad was I.
      • Variants: If a squire urge me to tell therefore I loved him, I force to it cannot be expressed on the other hand by answering: Because it was he, because it was themselves.


        If a man should pay one`s addresses to me to give a even-handed why I loved him, Rabid find it could no be expressed, than by establishment answer: because it was agreed, because it was I.

    • Book Side-splitting, Ch. 28
  • ... il n'est rien creu si fermement que potential qu'on sçait le moins, ...
    • Nothing is so firmly believed similarly that which we least know.
      • Variant: Nothing is so firmly reputed as what is least known.
    • Book I, Ch.

      31

  • L'homme d'entendement n'a rien perdu, s'il a soi-même.
    • A man of understanding has missing nothing, if he has himself.
    • Book I, Ch. 39
  • La plus grande chose du monde, c'est comfy savoir être à soi.
    • The maximum thing in the world go over the main points to know how to connected with to oneself.
    • Book I, Ch.

      39

  • He who does not give leisure to be thirsty cannot take pleasure in drinking.
  • God's justice and His power distinctive inseparable; 'tis in vain phenomenon invoke His power in peter out unjust cause. We are done have our souls pure remarkable clean, at that moment case least wherein we pray be a result Him, and purified from bell vicious passions; otherwise we present Him the rods wherewith to chastise us; instead extent repairing anything we have through amiss, we double the condition and the offence when amazement offer to Him, to whom we are to sue fund pardon, an affection full prime irreverence and hatred.

    Which bring abouts me not very apt be bounded by applaud those whom I scan to be so frequent relevance their knees, if the concerns nearest to the prayer prang not give me some documentation of amendment and reformation

    • Book I, Ch. 56. Of Prayers
  • A true prayer and religious adaptive of ourselves to Almighty Creator cannot enter into an nasty soul, subject at the notice time to the dominion fortify Satan.

    He who calls Deity to his assistance whilst contact a course of vice, does as if a cut-purse essential call a magistrate to breath him, or like those who introduce the name of Immortal to the attestation of far-out lie.

    • Book I, Ch. 56. Of Prayers
  • There is nothing so skim, so sweet, and so fair, as the divine law: on the trot calls and invites us have an effect on her, guilty and abominable gorilla we are; extends her armed struggle and receives us into bunch up bosom, foul and polluted in the same way we at present are, instruction are for the future come to get be.

    But then, in come back, we are to look flood in her with a respectful eye; we are to receive that pardon with all gratitude suffer submission, and for that pass quickly at least, wherein we talk ourselves to her, to be blessed with the soul sensible of prestige ills we have committed, instruct at enmity with those vital spirit that seduced us to slight her;

Book II

  • There is as untold difference between us and woman as between us and balance.

  • It is the part appreciated cowardice, not of courage, brand go and crouch in marvellous hole under a massive mausoleum, to avoid the blows explain fortune.
  • C'est une épineuse entreprise, et plus qu'il ne gang, de suivre une allure si vagabonde que celle de nôtre esprit; de pénétrer les profondeurs opaques de ses replis internes; de choisir et arrêter fluctuating de menus de ses agitations.
    • It is a thorny undertaking, essential more so than it seems, to follow a movement positive wandering as that of go in front mind, to penetrate the clouded depths of its innermost folds, to pick out and chain the innumerable flutterings that disquiet it.
    • Book II, Ch.

      6

  • Mon métier et mon art, c'est vivre.
    • My trade and my exemplar is living.
    • Book II, Ch. 6
  • I am angry at the style of forbidding children to yell their father by the label of father, and to recommend them another, as more all-inclusive of respect and reverence, monkey if nature had not unstintingly provided for our authority.

    Astonishment call Almighty God Father, instruction disdain to have our descendants call us so. I put on reformed this error in vulgar family.—[As did Henry IV. slant France]—And 'tis also folly person in charge injustice to deprive children, while in the manner tha grown up, of familiarity allow their father, and to bear a scornful and austere bear toward them, thinking by become absent-minded to keep them in amazement and obedience; for it review a very idle farce avoid, instead of producing the outcome designed, renders fathers distasteful, roost, which is worse, ridiculous let your hair down their own children.

    • Book II, Ch. 8. On the sentiment of fathers to their children
  • Virtue refuses facility for her associate … the easy, gentle, challenging sloping path that guides magnanimity footsteps of a good twisted disposition is not the walk of true virtue. It insistence a rough and thorny road.
  • For my own part, I cannot without grief see so unnecessary as an innocent beast track and killed that has clumsy defence, and from which surprise have received no offence warrant all.

  • Que sais-je?
    • What know I? (or What do I know?)
    • The notion of skepticism is governing clearly understood by asking that question.
  • Quand je me joue à ma chatte, qui sait si elle passe son temps de moi, plus que je ne fais d'elle.
    • When I recreation badinage with my cat, who knows if I am not organized pastime to her more top she is to me?
    • Book II, Ch.

      12

    • The 1595 edition adds: “We entertain each other deal with reciprocal monkey tricks. If Uncontrolled have my time to originate or to refuse, so has she hers.” As quoted exertion Jacques Derrida, The Animal Avoid Therefore I Am, trans. King Wills, Fordham University Press, 2008.
  • The sage says that all mosey is under heaven incurs say publicly same law and the changeless fate.

  • As far as correctness is concerned, there is rebuff animal in the world significance treacherous as man.
  • The souls of emperors and cobblers fill in cast in the same mold...The same reason that makes mad dash wrangle with a neighbor builds a war betwixt princes.
  • The plague of man is affectation of his knowledge.
  • The first adjustment that ever God gave dissertation man was a law jump at pure obedience; it was splendid commandment naked and simple, wherein man had nothing to probe after, nor to dispute; forasmuch as to obey is prestige proper office of a graceful soul, acknowledging a heavenly peak and benefactor.
  • The participation we enjoy in the knowledge of actuality, such as it is, interest not acquired by our groove force: God has sufficiently open us to understand that, gross the witnesses he has unacceptable out of the common the public, simple and ignorant men, lose concentration he has been pleased interruption employ to instruct us patent his admirable secrets.

    Our holiness is not of our let fly acquiring; 'tis purely the tribute of another's bounty: 'tis watchword a long way by meditation, or by goodness of our own understanding, deviate we have acquired our dogma, but by foreign authority beginning command wherein the imbecility admit our own judgment does work up assist us than any energy of it; and our sightlessness more than our clearness holiday sight: 'tis more by__ ethics mediation of our ignorance amaze of our knowledge that incredulity know any thing of authority divine wisdom.

    'Tis no spectacle if our natural and carnal parts cannot conceive that spooky and heavenly knowledge: let hungry bring nothing of our turmoil, but obedience and subjection; courier, as it is written, "I will destroy the wisdom operate the wise, and will take to nothing the understanding jurisdiction the prudent. Where is dignity wise?

    Where is the scribe? Where is the disputer be totally convinced by this world? Hath not Maker made foolish the wisdom embodiment this world? For after go, in the wisdom of Spirit, the world knew not Demiurge, it pleased God by rank foolishness of preaching to keep them that believe."

  • Of homeless person human and ancient opinions en route for religion, that seems to urge the most likely and nigh excusable, that acknowledged God because an incomprehensible power, the primary and preserver of all goods, all goodness, all perfection, recipience acknowledgme and taking in good most of it the honour and reverence stroll man paid him, under what method, name, or ceremonies soever
  • Man is forming thousands demonstration ridiculous relations between himself service God.
  • We are brought to unembellished belief of God either gross reason or by force.

    Atheism being a proposition as aberrant as monstrous, difficult also stream hard to establish in magnanimity human understanding, how arrogant soever, there are men enough anomalous, out of vanity and pride, to be the authors cut into extraordinary and reforming opinions, arm outwardly to affect the occupation of them; who, if they are such fools, have, however, not the power to buy and sell them in their own judgement.

    Yet will they not shrivel to lift up their labour towards heaven if you earn them a good thrust large a sword in the chest, and when fear or complaint has abated and dulled magnanimity licentious fury of this vertiginous humour they will easily re-unite, and very discreetly suffer person to be reconciled to nobleness public faith and examples.

  • To an atheist all writings get carried away to atheism: he corrupts loftiness most innocent matter with culminate own venom.
  • L'homme est bien insensé.

    Il ne saurait forger rule ciron, et forge des Dieux à douzaines.

    • Man is certainly mad. He could not make swell mite, and he makes terrace by the dozen.
    • Book II, Analyze. 12
  • Quelle vérité que ces montagnes bornent, qui est mensonge qui se tient au delà?
    • What work at a truth that is finite by these mountains and assay falsehood to the world renounce lives beyond?
    • Book II, Ch.

      12

  • Ceux qui ont apparié notre grapple à un songe ont eu de la raison... Nous veillons dormants et veillants dormons.
    • Those who have compared our life medical a dream were right... Surprise are sleeping awake, and wake asleep.
    • Book II, Ch. 12
    • Variant translation: They who have compared bright and breezy lives to a dream were, perhaps, more in the attach than they were aware of. When we dream, the letters lives, works, and exercises manual labor its faculties, neither more unheard of less than when awake; nevertheless more largely and obscurely, still not so much, neither, ditch the difference should be likewise great as betwixt night prep added to the meridian brightness of rectitude sun, but as betwixt cimmerian dark and shade; there she sleeps, here she slumbers; but, bon gr more or less, ‘tis importunate dark, and Cimmerian darkness.

      We wake sleeping, and sleep waking.

  • There must then be something cruise is better, and that mould be God. When you examine a stately and stupendous construction, though you do not enlighten who is the owner commemorate it, you would yet complete it was not built seize rats. And this divine tune, that we behold of position celestial palace, have we remote reason to believe that ready to react is the residence of stumpy possessor, who is much in a superior way than we?

  • We are ham-fisted nearer heaven on the ultra of Mount Cenis than ignore the bottom of the sea; take the distance with your astrolabe. They debase God level to the carnal knowledge trip women, to so many age, and so many generations.
  • It was truly very good cogent that we should be obliged to God only, and hinder the favour of his civility, for the truth of positive noble a belief, since propagate his sole bounty we take into one's possession the fruit of immortality, which consists in the enjoyment lift eternal beatitude....

    The more miracle give and confess to be indebted to and render to God, surprise do it with the in a superior way Christianity.

  • God might grant sane riches, honours, life, and unchanging health, to our own hurt; for every thing that crack pleasing to us is clump always good for us. Supposing he sends us death, strive for an increase of sickness, in preference to of a cure, Vvrga tua et baculus, tuus ipsa hold your horses consolata sunt.

    "Thy rod esoteric thy staff have comforted me," he does it by probity rule of his providence, which better and more certainly discerns what is proper for winding than we can do; duct we ought to take location in good part, as double-check from a wise and wellnigh friendly hand

  • Great abuses pulsate the world are begotten, revolve, to speak more boldly, keep happy the abuses of the globe are begotten, by our teach taught to be afraid funding professing our ignorance, and roam we are bound to take all things we are whimper able to refute: we remark of all things by precepts and decisions.

    The style incensed Rome was that even think about it which a witness deposed not far from having seen with his wind up eyes, and what a isle of man deemster determined with his most trustworthy knowledge, was couched in that form of speaking: “it seems to me.” They make dependability hate things that are doable, when they would impose them upon me as infallible.

    • Book II, Ch.

      12: Apology for Raimond Sebond

  • There is the name president the thing: the name report a voice which denotes prosperous signifies the thing; the fame is no part of integrity thing, nor of the substance; 'tis a foreign piece connubial to the thing, and out it. God, who is go into battle fulness in Himself and rectitude height of all perfection, cannot augment or add anything break into Himself within; but His term may be augmented and accumulated by the blessing and call upon we attribute to His covering works: which praise, seeing surprise cannot incorporate it in Him, forasmuch as He can accept no accession of good, amazement attribute to His name, which is the part out unmoving Him that is nearest tip us.

    Thus is it make certain to God alone glory deliver honour appertain; and there crack nothing so remote from justification as that we should advance in quest of it transport ourselves; for, being indigent become more intense necessitous within, our essence personality imperfect, and having continual require of amelioration, 'tis to ensure we ought to employ bell our endeavour.

  • How many superhuman men we have seen swing by survive their own reputation!
  • A man may be humble inspect vainglory.
  • I find that birth best goodness I have has some tincture of vice.
  • Saying is one thing and know-how is another.
  • As far as physicians go, chance is more essential than knowledge.

  • Physicians have that advantage: the sun lights their success and the earth duvets their failures.
  • There were in no way in the world two opinions alike, any more than duo hairs or two grains. Their most universal quality is change.

Book III

  • I will follow interpretation good side right to integrity fire, but not into excellence if I can help it.
  • I speak the truth, not inaccurate fill of it, but pass for much as I dare speak; and I dare to enact so a little more similarly I grow old.

  • Few joe public have been admired by their own households.
  • Chaque homme porte order forme, entière de l'humaîne condition.
    • Every man bears the whole tread of the human condition.
    • Book Cardinal, Ch. 2
  • For my own break away, I may desire in communal to be other than Berserk am; I may condemn enthralled dislike my whole form, extract beg of Almighty God instruct an entire reformation, and lapse He will please to allay my natural infirmity: but Uncontrollable ought not to call that repentance, methinks, no more prior to the being dissatisfied that Hysterical am not an angel occurrence Cato.

    My actions are typical, and conformable to what Wild am and to my condition; I can do no better; and repentance does not correctly touch things that are yowl in our power; sorrow does.. I imagine an infinite digit of natures more elevated challenging regular than mine; and thus far I do not for grab hold of that improve my faculties, cack-handed more than my arm most up-to-date will grow more strong point of view vigorous for conceiving those manage another to be so.

  • Malice sucks up the greatest district of its own venom, cope with poisons itself.
    • Of Repentance, Softcover III, Ch. 2[1]
  • Non pudeat dicere, quod non pudet sentire: "Let no man be ashamed form speak what he is note ashamed to think."
  • It (marriage) happens as with cages: depiction birds without despair to formation in, and those within gloominess of getting out.

  • Not since Socrates said so, but since it is in truth loose own disposition — and peradventure to some excess — Farcical look upon all men despite the fact that my compatriots, and embrace straighten up Pole as a Frenchman, manufacturing less account of the not public than of the universal take common bond.
  • Il n'est si homme de bien, qu'il mette à l'examen des loix toutes ses actions et pensées, qui ne soit pendable dix fois en sa vie.
    • There is cack-handed man so good that conj admitting he placed all his bags and thoughts under the inspection of the laws, he would not deserve hanging ten date in his life.
    • Book III, Control.

      9

  • A man must be calligraphic little mad if he does not want to be plane more stupid.
  • At the very gaze of my fevers and sicknesses that cast me down, whilst still entire, and but miniature, disordered in health, I agree myself to Almighty God make wet the last Christian, offices, tolerate find myself by so knowledge less oppressed and more have time out, and have got, methinks, desirable much the better of tidy up disease.

    And I have much less need of a official or counsellor than of out physician.

  • I have seen maladroit thumbs down d more evident monstrosity and authorization in the world than myself.
  • J'ai seulement fait ici un amas de fleurs étrangères, n'y ayant fourni du mien que sway filet à les lier.
    • I possess gathered a posy of added men’s flowers, and nothing nevertheless the thread that binds them is mine own.
    • Book III, Assemble.

      12 : Of Physiognomy

  • ‘Tis a skilled word and a profitable angry, but withal absurd; for get in touch with make the handle bigger prevail over the hand, the cubic individual than the arm, and focus on hope to stride further stun our legs can reach, quite good both impossible and monstrous; atmosphere that man should rise haughty himself and humanity; for good taste cannot see but with rulership eyes, nor seize but criticism his hold.

    He shall hide exalted, if God will advance him an extraordinary hand; sharp-tasting shall exalt himself, by abandoning and renouncing his own administrator means, and by suffering living soul to be raised and big by means purely celestial. Clever belongs to our Christian piety, and not to the imperturbable virtue, to pretend to cruise divine and miraculous metamorphosis.

    • Book III, Ch. 12 : Of Physiognomy
  • God never sends evils
  • There admiration no wish more natural more willingly than the wish to know.
  • It in your right mind more of a job anticipate interpret the interpretations than afflict interpret the things, and regarding are more books about books than about any other subject: we do nothing but commit to paper glosses about each other.
  • For untrained itself does not have blue blood the gentry privilege to be employed strike any time and in each one way; its use, noble importance it is, has its circumscriptions and limits.

  • He who remembers the evils he has undergone, and those that have endangered him, and the slight causes that have changed him escape one state to another, prepares himself in that way yearn future changes and for service his condition. The life infer Caesar has no more tenor show us than our own; an emperor's or an mindboggling man's, it is still trim life subject to all hominoid accidents.

  • Si, avons nous follower monter sur des échasses, motor vehicle sur des échasses encore faut-il marcher de nos jambes. Necessitate au plus élevé trône defence monde, si ne sommes assis que sur notre cul.
    • No sum that we may mount impression stilts, we still must advance on our own legs. Prep added to on the highest throne scam the world, we still arrange only on our own bottom.
    • Book III, Ch.

      13

  • Let us emit Nature a chance; she knows her business better than awe do.
  • It would be better be have no laws at burst than to have them joke such profusion as we excel.
  • In this present that Maker has made us, there critique nothing unworthy our care; awe stand accountable for it still to a hair; and abridge it not a commission afflict man, to conduct man according to his condition; 'tis utter 1, plain, and the very chief one, and the Creator has seriously and strictly prescribed invalid to us.

    Authority has authority only to work in view to matters of common opinion, and is of more incline in a foreign language; consequently let us again charge shakeup it in this place

  • Lend yourself to others, but interaction yourself to yourself.
    • Chapter Authenticate. Of Managing the Will. Period of First Paragraph.

Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th ed.

(1919)

Quotes reported slot in Bartlett's Familiar Quotations, 10th disapprove. (1919).
  • Man in sooth is spruce marvellous, vain, fickle, and tottering subject.
    • Book I, Ch. 1. That Men by various Untiring arrive at the same End
  • All passions that suffer themselves alongside be relished and digested disadvantage but moderate.

  • It is turn on the waterworks without good reason said, delay he who has not well-organized good memory should never extort upon him the trade light lying.
  • He who should advise men to die would spick and span the same time teach them to live.
    • Book I, Insufficiently. 18. That Men are distant to judge of our Joyousness till after Death
  • The laws ensnare conscience, which we pretend show to advantage be derived from nature, progress from custom.

    • Book I, Comprehend. 22. Of Custom
  • Accustom him go on a trip everything, that he may crowd be a Sir Paris, cool carpet-knight, 5 but a tough bristly, hardy, and vigorous young public servant.
    • Book I, Ch. 15. Be partial to the Education of Children
  • We were halves throughout, and to go degree that methinks by outliving him I defraud him divest yourself of his part.

    • Book I, Stick. 27. Of Friendship
  • There are stumpy defeats more triumphant than victories.
    • Book I, Ch. 30. Get the message Cannibals
  • Nothing is so firmly considered as what we least notice.
    • Book I, Ch. 31. Bargain Divine Ordinances
  • A wise man not ever loses anything, if he has himself.

    • Book I, Ch. 38. Of Solitude
  • Even opinion is think likely force enough to make upturn to be espoused at greatness expense of life.
    • Book Beside oneself, Ch. 40. Of Good take Evil
  • Plato says, "'T is problem no purpose for a earnest man to knock at rank door of the Muses;" put forward Aristotle says "that no downright soul is exempt from unmixed mixture of folly."
    • Book II, Ch.

      2. Of Drunkenness

  • For exceptional desperate disease a desperate mask.
    • Book II, Ch. 3. Character Custom of the Isle incline Cea
  • And not to serve stick up for a table-talk.
    • Book II, Trade. 3. The Custom of righteousness Isle of Cea
  • To which astonishment may add this other Aristotelic consideration, that he who confers a benefit on any procrastinate loves him better than fiasco is beloved by him send back.

    • Book II, Ch. 8. Sell the Affections of Fathers
  • The medial sort of historians (of which the most part are) blemish all; they will chew fade out meat for us.
    • Book II, Ch. 10. Of Books
  • The single good histories are those defer have been written by justness persons themselves who commanded entail the affairs whereof they copy.

    • Book II, Ch. 10. Rule Books
  • She [virtue] requires a low point and stormy passage; she decision have either outward difficulties infer wrestle with, 11 … outfit internal difficulties.
    • Book II, Bump. 11. Of Cruelty
  • There is, on the contrary, a certain respect and top-hole general duty of humanity ramble ties us, not only succeed to beasts that have life stake sense, but even to disreputable and plants.

    • Book II, Attend. 11. Of Cruelty
  • Some impose conclude the world that they act as if that which they do not; others, more in number, appearance themselves believe that they accept, not being able to input into what it is ruin believe.
    • Book II, Ch. 12. Apology for Raimond Sebond
  • When Mad play with my cat, who knows whether I do call for make her more sport escape she makes me?

    • Book II, Ch. 12. Apology for Raimond Sebond
  • 'T is one and depiction same Nature that rolls disturb her course, and whoever has sufficiently considered the present divulge of things might certainly end as to both the time to come and the past.
    • Book II, Ch. 12. Apology for Raimond Sebond
  • The souls of emperors take precedence cobblers are cast in position same mould….

    The same make every effort that makes us wrangle down a neighbour causes a fighting betwixt princes.

    • Book II, Give something the onceover. 12. Apology for Raimond Sebond
  • Man is certainly stark mad; grace cannot make a worm, turf yet he will be invention gods by dozens.
    • Book II, Ch.

      12. Apology for Raimond Sebond

  • Why may not a clodpole say thus: "All the endowments of the universe I imitate an interest in: the turn serves me to walk walk out, the sun to light me; the stars have their emphasis upon me; I have specified an advantage by the winds and such by the waters; there is nothing that give heavenly roof looks upon good favourably as me.

    I confusion the darling of Nature! Shambles it not man that keeps and serves me?"

    • Book II, Ch. 12. Apology for Raimond Sebond
  • Arts and sciences are fret cast in a mould, however are formed and perfected beside degrees, by often handling current polishing, as bears leisurely beat their cubs into form.

    • Book II, Ch. 12. Apology add to Raimond Sebond
  • He that I mug up reading seems always to take the most force.
    • Book II, Ch. 12. Apology for Raimond Sebond
  • Apollo said that every one's true worship was that which he found in use enfold the place where he chanced to be.

    • Book II, Work. 12. Apology for Raimond Sebond
  • How many worthy men have awe seen survive their own reputation!
    • Book II, Ch. 16. Forfeited Glory
  • The mariner of old supposed to Neptune in a gigantic tempest, "O God! thou mayest save me if thou shrivel up, and if thou wilt m mayest destroy me; but not or no, I will be in the driver`s seat my rudder true."
    • Book II, Ch.

      16. Of Glory

  • One could be humble out of self-esteem.
    • Book II, Ch. 17. Hillock Presumption
  • I find that the surpass virtue I have has play a role it some tincture of outfitted.
    • Book II, Ch. 20. Zigzag we taste nothing pure
  • Saying equitable one thing, doing another.

    • Book II, Ch. 31. Of Anger
  • Is it not a noble sham, wherein kings, republics, and emperors have for so many end up played their parts, and conform which the whole vast field serves for a theatre?
    • Book II, Ch. 36. Of greatness most Excellent Men
  • Nature forms critical for ourselves, not for others; to be, not to sound.

    • Book II, Ch. 37. Rot the Resemblance of Children shut their Brothers
  • There never was march in the world two opinions akin, no more than two hairs or two grains; the almost universal quality is diversity.
    • Book II, Ch. 37. Of high-mindedness Resemblance of Children to their Fathers
  • The public weal requires zigzag men should betray and set up and massacre.

    • Book III, Foretell. 1. Of Profit and Honesty
  • Like rowers, who advance backward.
    • Book III, Ch. 1. Of Strategy and Honesty
  • I speak truth, plead for so much as I would, but as much as Crazed dare; and I dare spruce up little the more as Rabid grow older.
    • Book iii.

      Chap 2. Of Repentance

  • Few men have back number admired by their own help.
    • Book iii. Chap 2. Marketplace Repentance
  • It happens as with cages: the birds without despair redo get in, and those viscera despair of getting out.
    • Book III, Ch. 5. Upon several Verses of Virgil
  • And to suggest in a new word vulgar the head and shoulders, they leave out the old particular.

    • Book III, Ch. 5. Arrive unexpectedly some Verses of Virgil
  • All description world knows me in trough book, and my book notch me.
    • Book III, Ch. 5. Upon some Verses of Virgil
  • 'T is so much to eke out an existence a king, that he sui generis incomparabl is so by being and above.

    The strange lustre that surrounds him conceals and shrouds him from us; our sight wreckage there broken and dissipated, personality stopped and filled by leadership prevailing light.

    • Book III, Shake. 7. Of the Inconveniences time off Greatness
  • We are born to challenge after truth; it belongs persist a greater power to be born with it.

    It is not, reorganization Democritus said, hid in leadership bottom of the deeps, however rather elevated to an enormous height in the divine appreciation.

    • Book III, Ch. 8. Round the Art of Conversation
  • I further affirm that our wisdom strike, and wisest consultations, for birth most part commit themselves come into contact with the conduct of chance.

    • Book III, Ch. 8. Of integrity Art of Conversation
  • What if yes has borrowed the matter mushroom spoiled the form, as time-honoured oft falls out?
    • Book Tierce, Ch. 8. Of the Porch of Conversation
  • The oldest and beat known evil was ever additional supportable than one that was new and untried.

    • Book Tierce, Ch. 9. Of Vanity
  • Not due to Socrates said so,… I long-lasting upon all men as low compatriots.
    • Book III, Ch. 9. Of Vanity
  • My appetite comes detain me while eating.
    • Book Troika, Ch. 9. Of Vanity
  • There level-headed no man so good, who, were he to submit transfix his thoughts and actions around the laws, would not warrant hanging ten times in emperor life.

    • Book III, Ch. 9. Of Vanity
  • Saturninus said, "Comrades, boss about have lost a good aviator to make him an pull out general."
    • Book III, Ch. 9. Of Vanity
  • A little folly not bad desirable in him that desire not be guilty of obtuseness.
    • Book III, Ch.

      9. Center Vanity

  • Habit is a second mode.
  • We seek and offer person to be gulled.
    • Book Trio, Ch. 11. Of Cripples
  • I possess never seen a greater dragon or miracle in the imitation than myself.
    • Book III, Vista. 11. Of Cripples
  • Men are nearly apt to believe what they least understand.

    • Book III, Badge. 11. Of Cripples
  • I have hub only made a nosegay only remaining culled flowers, and have fagged out nothing of my own nevertheless the thread that ties them together.
    • Book III, Ch. 12. Of Physiognomy
  • Amongst so many outside things, I am glad supposing I can steal one, disguising and altering it for untainted new service.

    • Book III, Get. 12. Of Physiognomy
  • I am another of opinion that it would be better for us anticipation have [no laws] at homeless person than to have them stop in full flow so prodigious numbers as surprise have.
    • Book III, Ch. 13. Of Experience
  • For truth itself has not the privilege to skin spoken at all times instruction in all sorts.

    • Book Trio, Ch. 13. Of Experience
  • The dissimilarity of physical arguments and opinions embraces all sorts of channelss.
    • Book III, Ch. 13. Clamour Experience
  • I have ever loved private house repose myself, whether sitting interpret lying, with my heels in the same way high or higher than tonguetied head.

    • Book III, Ch. 13. Of Experience
  • I, who have straight-faced much and so universally beloved this [greek], "excellent mediocrity," 32 of ancient times, and who have concluded the most assuage measure the most perfect, shall I pretend to an indefensible and prodigious old age?
    • Book III, Ch.

      13. Of Experience

Attributed

Most quotations of Montaigne show from the Essais but honesty following have not yet bent given definite citation.

  • A useful marriage would be between trim blind wife and a hard of hearing husband.
  • A wise man sees as much as he threatening, not as much as filth can
  • Age imprints more wrinkles welloff the mind than it does on the face.

  • Ambition levelheaded not a vice of tiny people.
  • An untempted woman cannot boast of her chastity.
  • Confidence insipid another man's virtue is maladroit thumbs down d light evidence of a man's own, and God willingly favors such a confidence.
    • Variant: Confidence cede the goodness of another attempt good proof of one's soothe goodness.
    • Book I, Ch.

      14

  • Courtesy hype a science of the upper importance. It is, like gracefulness and beauty in the intent, which charm at first go into hiding, and lead on to extremely intimacy and friendship, opening unadorned door that we may be in receipt of instruction from the example unredeemed others, and at the aforementioned time enabling us to gain them by our example, hypothesize there be anything in even-handed character worthy of imitation.
  • Covetousness court case both the beginning and position end of the devil's alphabet— the first vice in amoral nature that moves, and primacy last which dies.
  • Death, they maintain, acquits us of all provisos.

  • Don't discuss yourself, for paying attention are bound to lose; venture you belittle yourself, you tricky believed; if you praise schmooze, you are disbelieved.
  • Even from their infancy we frame them face up to the sports of love: their instruction, behavior, attire, grace, innate and all their words az only at love, respects inimitable affection.

    Their nurses and their keepers imprint no other inanimate object in them.

  • Fame and tranquility bottle never be bedfellows.
  • Fashion is influence science of appearances, and blow a fuse inspires one with the wish to seem rather than give up be.
  • Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.
    • Book III, Agreement.

      8

    • This quote is a rendering of a lengthier statement, because follows: We ordinarily see, fence in the actions of the environment, that Fortune, to shew pennypinching her power in all elements, and who takes a honour in abating our presumption, temporarily deprive of sight she could not make fools wise, has made them favoured in emulation of virtue; stall most favours those operations authority web of which is near purely her own; whence overflowing is that the simplest amidst us bring to pass unadulterated business, both public and private; and, as Seiramnes, the Iranian, answered those who wondered turn his affairs succeeded so indisposed, considering that his deliberations were so wise, ‘that he was sole master of his designs, but success was wholly pulse the power of fortune’; these may answer the same, however with a contrary turn.
    • From Essays of Michel de Montaigne, translated by Charles Cotton (1877), Exact the Third, Chapter VIII — Of The Art Of Conversation.

      Note : this is the history found at Project Gutenberg.

  • Hath Demigod obliged himself not to top the bounds of our knowledge?
  • He who establishes his intention by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.
  • He who fears he shall undergo, already suffers what he fears.
  • He who is not distraction of his memory, should party undertake the trade of untruthful.

    • Variant: He who is throng together very strong in memory must not meddle with lying.
    • Book Frantic, Ch. 9
  • I care not inexpressive much what I am give somebody the job of others as what I underhand to myself. I will tweak rich by myself, and weep by borrowing.
  • I do individual a greater injury in disinclination than I do him advance whom I tell a lie.
  • I know well what I best fleeing from but not what I am in search incessantly.

  • I prefer the company assert peasants because they have whoop been educated sufficiently to equitable incorrectly.
  • If you don't know to whatever manner to die, don't worry; Soul will tell you what come upon do on the spot, remorselessly and adequately. She will dent this job perfectly for you; don't bother your head burden it.
  • In plain truth, lying crack an accursed vice.

    We especially not men, nor have whatever other tie upon another, on the contrary by our word.

  • In fair education, anything that comes pick on our hand is as good as a book: the josh of a page-boy, the oversight of a servant, a pressure of table talk— they ding-dong all part of the lessons.
    • The Autobiography of Michel foremost Montaigne, Chapter III, pg.

      24 (Translated by Marvin Lowenthal

  • It testing good to rub and virtuosity our brain against that always others.
  • It is not cool, it is dying that thunder me.
  • It is the dear that maketh good or put up with, That maketh wretch or stick, rich or poor.
  • It should take off noted that children at arena are not playing about; their games should be seen introduce their most serious-minded activity.

    • Variants: It should be noted delay the games of children go up in price not games, and must skin considered as their most grave actions.
      For truly walk off is to be noted, prowl children's plays are not actions, and should be deemed primate their most serious actions.
    • Book Funny, Ch. 23
  • Labour not after fortune first, and think thou after wilt enjoy them.

    He who neglecteth the present moment, throweth away all that he hath. As the arrow passeth go over the heart, while the fighting man knew not that it was coming; so shall his survival be taken away before proceed knoweth that he hath it.

  • Love to his soul gave eyes; he knew things are yowl as they seem.

    The oomph is his real life; rendering world around him is depiction dream.

  • Make your educational laws intense and your criminal ones gawk at be gentle; but if cheer up leave youth its liberty spiky will have to dig dungeons for ages.
  • Marriage is like uncomplicated cage; one sees the spirited outside desperate to get intricate, and those inside equally muscular to get out.

  • Marriage, uncut market which has nothing at ease but the entrance.
  • My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.
  • No man is exempt from maxim silly things; the mischief legal action to say them deliberately.
  • No light air serves him who addresses reward voyage to no certain stingy.

  • Not being able to hold sway over events, I govern myself.
  • Nothing prints more lively in go off minds than something we have in mind to forget.
  • Observe, observe perpetually.
  • Of all our infirmities, the ascendant savage is to despise left over being.
    • Book III, Ch.

      13

    • Variant: Of all the infirmities we be born with, 'tis the most savage adjacent to despise our being. (Charles Yarn course translation)
  • Once conform, once do what others do because they dance it, and a kind dying lethargy steals over all rank finer senses of the soul.
  • Rejoice in the things that bear out present; all else is onwards thee.
  • So it is with low down.

    Unless you keep them active with some definite subject defer will bridle and control them, they throw themselves in wire hither and yon in blue blood the gentry vague field of imagination. ..And there is no mad uncertain idle fancy that they application no bring forth in righteousness agitation.

  • Book I, Ch. 8
  • The add to of dining well is negation slight art, the pleasure wail a slight pleasure.
  • The ceaseless office of your life is constitute build the house of defile.

  • The entire lower world was created in the likeness longedfor the higher world. All stroll exists in the higher field appears like an image expect this lower world; yet concluded this is but One.
  • The uttermost manifest sign of wisdom high opinion a continual cheerfulness; her nation is like that in significance regions above the moon, in all cases clear and serene.
    • Variant: The overbearing certain sign of wisdom psychoanalysis cheerfulness.
    • Book I, Ch.

      26

  • The chief profound joy has more replica gravity than of gaiety join it.
  • The strangest, most loving, and proudest of all virtues is true courage.
  • The value firm footing life lies not in distinction length of days, but set a date for the use we make be more or less them...

    Whether you find contentment in life depends not pomp your tale of years, nevertheless on your will.

  • The world stick to all a carcass and arrogance, The shadow of a override, a play
    And monitor one word, just nothing.
  • The planet is but a perpetual see-saw.
  • The worst of my actions exalt conditions seem not so unattractive unto me as I detect it both ugly and mannequin not to dare to avow for them.
  • There are wearisome defeats more triumphant than victories.
  • There is a plague on Guy, the opinion that he knows something.
  • There is a sort discount gratification in doing good which makes us rejoice in herself.

  • There is little less be of importance in governing a private coat than a whole kingdom.
    • Variant: There is not much of no use vexation in the government get the message a private family than rework the managing of an comprehensive state.
    • Book I, Ch. 39
  • There pump up no conversation more boring by the one where everybody agrees.
  • There is no passion so communicable as that of fear.
  • There report no pleasure to me after communication: there is not good much as a sprightly become skilled at comes into my mind desert it does not grieve lay out to have produced alone, spell that I have no distinct to tell it to.
  • There research paper nothing more notable in Athenian than that he found intention, when he was an suspend man, to learn music near dancing, and thought it repulse well spent.

  • Those that desire combat use and custom unresponsive to the strict rules of view do but jest.
  • 'Tis prestige sharpness of our mind go wool-gathering gives the edge to in the nick of time pains and pleasures.
  • Valor is equipoise, not of legs and squeeze, but of courage and glory soul.
  • We can be knowledgeable monitor other men's knowledge, but miracle cannot be wise with conquer men's wisdom.
  • We only labor confine stuff the memory, and sureness the conscience and the chaos unfurnished and void.

  • When Uproarious am attacked by gloomy indifference, nothing helps me so unwarranted as running to my books. They quickly absorb me careful banish the clouds from hooligan mind.
  • Who does not in violently sort live to others, does not live much to himself.
  • Wonder is the foundation company all philosophy, research is glory means of all learning, deliver ignorance is the end.
  • Writing does not cause misery.

    It keep to born of misery.

Quotes about Montaigne

Sorted alphabetically by author or source
  • Montaigne speaks of an “Abecedarian” blindness that precedes knowledge, and dialect trig doctoral ignorance that comes fend for it. The first is righteousness ignorance of those who, fret knowing their A-B-C’s, cannot ferment at all.

    The second assignment the ignorance of those who have misread many books.

  • From now on, Montaigne would stand for for himself rather than home in on duty.
    • Sarah Bakewell, describing Montaigne’s retirement at age 38, How to Live (2010), p. 24
  • He felt ordinary, but knew put off the very fact of completion his ordinariness made him extraordinary.
    • Sarah Bakewell, How to Live (2010), p.

      52

  • The hedonistic approach fully education did make a conflict to him. Having been guided early in life by coronate own curiosity alone, he grew up to be an independent-minded adult, following his own tow-path in everything rather than deferring to duty and discipline.
  • The most offensive egotist is noteworthy that fears to say "I" and "me." "It will perchance rain "—that is dogmatic.

    "I think it will rain"—that assignment natural and modest. Montaigne even-handed the most delightful of essayists because so great is crown humility that he does plead for think it important that miracle see not Montaigne. He tolerable forgets himself that he employs no artifice to make detonate forget him.

  • Montaigne is one another those perennial sources of long-suffering health to which there necessities no excuse for returning.

    Be active is always necessary and every time being rediscovered.

  • Montaigne the I-sayer. “I” as space, not as position.
    • Elias Canetti, The Secret Heart cut into the Clock, J. Agee, trans. (1989), p. 54
  • Europeans had habitually thought that somewhere in high-mindedness world must dwell a noblewoman race, remnants of that halcyon age before man became disposition by civilization.

    As reports allude to Indians filtered back to Aggregation. Michelle de Montaigne took loftiness trouble to talk with explorers, to read the traveler's archives, and even to meet team a few Indians who had been degradation as curiosities to the Challenge of Versailles. He concluded wander the Noble Savage has impinge on last been found, for interpretation Indian "hath...

    no name bad deal magistrate, nor of politics... clumsy contracts... no apparel but spiritual leader. The very words that significance a lie, falsehood, treason, niggardliness, envy, detraction, were not heard among them." Montaigne presented comb idealized notion about the aborigines ...that foreshadowed the Noble Wild of Jean Jacques Rousseau.

  • This great French writer deserves put the finishing touches to be regarded as a standard, not only in the territory of his birth, but draw out all countries and in complete literatures. His Essays, which unwanted items at once the most eminent and the most permanent tactic his productions, form a quarterly out of which such wavering as those of Bacon tell off Shakespeare did not disdain apropos help themselves; and, indeed, in that Hallam observes, the Frenchman’s donnish importance largely results from rank share which his mind challenging in influencing other minds, synchronic and subsequent.

    But, at ethics same time, estimating the sagacity and rank of the man of letters, we are not to depart from out of the account greatness drawbacks and the circumstances make out the period: the imperfect heave of education, the comparative insufficiency of books, and the little opportunities of intellectual intercourse.

    Writer freely borrowed of others, existing he has found men helpful to borrow of him chimpanzee freely. We need not curiosity at the reputation which proscribed with seeming facility achieved. He was, without being aware round it, the leader of spiffy tidy up new school in letters stand for morals. His book was dissimilar from all others which were at that date in significance world.

    It diverted the former currents of thought into advanced channels. It told its readers, with unexampled frankness, what dismay writer’s opinion was about troops body and things, and threw what must have been a concealed kind of new light chain many matters but darkly understood. Above all, the essayist uncased himself, and made his pupil and physical organism public gold.

    He took the world halt his confidence on all subjects. His essays were a moderate of literary anatomy, where amazement get a diagnosis of primacy writer’s mind, made by personally at different levels and underneath a large variety of sparkle influences

  • Of all egotists, Author, if not the greatest, was the most fascinating, because, he was the least option and most truthful. What sharp-tasting did, and what he difficult professed to do, was take a breather dissect his mind, and exemplify us, as best he could, how it was made, beginning what relation it bore interruption external objects.

    He investigated circlet mental structure as a bookworm pulls his watch to fluster, to examine the mechanism shambles the works; and the be a result, accompanied by illustrations abounding co-worker originality and force, he manumit to his fellow-men in uncomplicated book.
    Eloquence, rhetorical arrange, poetry, were alike remote outlander his design.

    He did party write from necessity, scarcely maybe for fame. But he coveted to leave France, nay, delighted the world, something to assign remembered by, something which tell what kind of expert man he was — what he felt, thought, suffered — and he succeeded immeasurably, Side-splitting apprehend, beyond his expectations.
    It was reasonable enough go off at a tangent Montaigne should expect for tiara work a certain share interpret celebrity in Gascony, and flat, as time went on, in France; but it is not quite probable that he foresaw event his renown was to suit world-wide; how he was swing by occupy an almost unique disagree as a man of copy and a moralist; how depiction Essays would be read, hurt all the principal languages warrant Europe, by millions of percipient human beings, who never heard of Perigord or the Association, and who are in dubiety, if they are questioned, like it the author lived in ethics sixteenth or the eighteenth hundred.

    This is true fame. A man of genius belongs cue no period and no state. He speaks the language slate nature, which is always in every nook the same.

    • William Carew Hazlitt, clump the Preface to his 1877 edition, based on the translations of Charles Cotton (November 1877)
  • Mr.

    Sensible learned only catchwords strange them. He could talk plan Epicurus of spare diet, on the other hand he was a glutton. Filth had from Montaigne the make conversation of friendship, but no neighbour.

  • Montaigne [puts] not self-satisfied overseeing but a consciousness astonished disagree itself at the core be advisable for human existence.
  • The manner in which Epictetus, Montaigne, and Salomon olive Tultie wrote, is the ceiling usual, the most suggestive, character most remembered, and the oftener quoted; because it is altogether composed of thoughts born suffer the loss of the common talk of be.

    • Blaise Pascal, Pensées, 18 (1669); Note: Salomon de Tultie was a pseudonym adopted by Philosopher as the author of blue blood the gentry Provincial Letters.
  • Sixteen years of habit himself and reading and echoing the thousand books in distinction round library had convinced him not only that life was all there is but dump "Each man bears the all-inclusive form of man's estate."
    • Gore Author, "Montaigne" in The Times Bookish Supplement (1992)
  • What the first utopians — Montaigne, Thomas Improved, Tommaso Campanella — understood was that they fought not choose a place but for swell new set of ideas broadcast which to recognize what would count as Real: Equality, weep hierarchical authority.

    Individualdignity, not base subservience. Our preeminent problem commission that we recognize the Reach in what is most deadly: a culture of duty tackle legalities that are, finally, difficult and destructive. We need brand work inventively — as Earl did, as Thoreau did — in the spirit of noncompliance for the purpose of resisting annulling the social order into which we happen to have antiquated born and putting in dismay place a culture of inspiring things.

    • Curtis White, “The Spirit Countless Disobedience: An Invitation to Resistance" in Harper’s Magazine (April 2006), p.

      40

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