“In the education of children there is nothing like alluring the interest and affection; otherwise you only make so many asses laden with books.”
“It is the part of cowardliness, and not of virtue, to seek to squat itself in some hollow lurking hole, or to hide herself under some massive tomb, thereby to shun the strokes of fortune.”
“He who fears he will suffer, already suffers from his fear.”
Source: Complete Essays
“Who feareth to suffer suffereth already, because he feareth.”
Source: Essayes
“Repentance is but a denying of our will, and an opposition of our fantasies.”
Source: Essayes
“No profession or occupation is more pleasing than the military; a profession or exercise both noble in execution (for the strongest, most generous and proudest of all virtues is true valor) and noble in its cause. No utility either more just or universal than the protection of the repose or defense of the greatness of one's country. The company and daily conversation of so many noble, young and active men cannot but be well-pleasing to you.”
Source: Selected essays of Montaigne: in the translation of John Florio
“Taking it all in all, I find it is more trouble to watch after money than to get it.”
Source: The Autobiography of Michel de Montaigne: Comprising the Life of the Wisest Man of His Times : His Childhood, Youth, and Prime : His Adventures in Love and Marriage, at Court, and in Office, War, Revolution, and Plague : His Travels at Home and Abroad : His Habits, Tastes, Whims, and Opinions
“I see men ordinarily more eager to discover a reason for things than to find out whether the things are so.”
Source: The Autobiography of Michel de Montaigne: Comprising the Life of the Wisest Man of His Times : His Childhood, Youth, and Prime : His Adventures in Love and Marriage, at Court, and in Office, War, Revolution, and Plague : His Travels at Home and Abroad : His Habits, Tastes, Whims, and Opinions
“I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own but the thread that tied them together.”
Source: The Works of Michael de Montaigne: Comprising His Essays, Letters, Journey Through Germany and Italy. With Notes from All the Commentators, Biographical and Bibliographical Notices, &c. &c
“When I quote others I do so in order to express my own ideas more clearly.”
Source: The Essays
“He who lives not to others, lives little to himself.”
“The most certain sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness; her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear and serene.”
“The great and glorious masterpiece of humanity is to know how to live with a purpose.”
“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.”
Source: Essays by Montaigne. [A selection.] Edited, compared, revised, and annotated by the Author of
“Scratching is one of nature's sweetest gratifications, and nearest at hand.”
“Greatness of soul consists not so much in soaring high and in pressing forward, as in knowing how to adapt and limit oneself.”
“All the world knows me in my book, and my book in me.”
Source: Essays in 3 Books
“A lady could not boast of her chastity who was never tempted.”
Source: Montaigne's Essays: Top Essays
“A hair shirt does not always render those chaste who wear it.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)
“Custom is a second nature, and no less powerful.”
Source: Montaigne's Essays: Top Essays
“The laws of conscience, which we pretend to be derived from nature, proceed from Custom.”
Source: Works of Michael de Montaigne: Comprising His Essays, Journey Into Italy, and Letters, with Notes from All the Commentators, Biographical and Bibliographical Notices, Etc
“Intemperance is the plaque of sensuality, and temperance is not its bane but its seasoning.”
“Dreams are faithful interpreters of our inclinations; but there is art required to sort and understand them.”
Source: Essays of Montaigne
“Let us a little permit nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we.”
Source: Annotated Essays of Michel de Montaigne with English Grammar Exercises: by Michel de Montaigne (Author), Robert Powell (Editor)
“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?”
Source: Michel de Montaigne: Selected Essays
“There is no so wretched and coarse a soul wherein some particular faculty is not seen to shine.”
Source: Michel de Montaigne: Selected Essays
“A man must not always tell all, for that be folly; but what a man says should be what he thinks.”
Source: All the Essays of Michael Seigneur de Montaigne
“I must accommodate my history to the hour: I may presently change, not only by fortune, but also by intention.”
Source: All the Essays of Michael Seigneur de Montaigne
“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.”
Source: Montaigne's Essays: Top Essays
“Marriage can be compared to a cage: birds outside it despair to enter, and birds within, to escape.”
“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.”
“Every man carries the entire form of human condition.”
Source: All the Essays of Michael Seigneur de Montaigne
“The beauty of stature is the only beauty of men.”
Source: Montaigne's Essays in Three Books: With Notes and Quotations. And an Account of the Author's Life. With a Short Character of the Author and Translator
“A strong memory is commonly coupled with infirm judgment.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)
“Nature is a gentle guide, but not more sweet and gentle than prudent and just.”
Source: Montaigne's Essays in Three Books: With Notes and Quotations. And an Account of the Author's Life. With a Short Character of the Author and Translator
“We are never present with, but always beyond ourselves; fear, desire, hope, still push us on toward the future.”
Source: Montaigne's Essays: Top Essays
“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.”
“Wonder is the foundation of all philosophy, inquiry the progress, ignorance the end.”
Source: Works of Michael de Montaigne: Comprising his essays, journey into Italy, and letters
“Every man may speak truly, but to speak methodically, prudently, and fully is a talent that few men have.”
Source: Montaigne's Essays: Top Essays
“One open way of speaking introduces another open way of speaking, and draws out discoveries, like wine and love.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)
“Obstinacy and dogmatism are the surest signs of stupidity. Is there anything more confident, resolute, disdainful, grave and serious than an ass?”
“The virtue of the soul does not consist in flying high, but in walking orderly.”
Source: Montaigne's Essays: Top Essays
“Wisdom is a solid and entire building, of which every piece keeps its place and bears its mark.”
Source: Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)
“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.”
“Friendship is the highest degree of perfection in society.”
“I have often seen people uncivil by too much civility, and tiresome in their courtesy.”
“I do not teach. I relate.”
“My reason is not framed to bend or stoop: my knees are.”
“Example is a bright looking-glass, universal and for all shapes to look into.”
“It is not without good reason, that he who has not a good memory should never take upon him the trade of lying.”
Source: Michel de Montaigne: Selected Essays
