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Michel de Montaigne

Michel de Montaigne Quotes

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Famous Michel de Montaigne Quotes

“Every one is well or ill at ease, according as he finds himself! not he whom the world believes, but he who believes himself to be so, is content; and in him alone belief gives itself being and reality”

WorldGivingBelieveWellsRealityBeliefIllEaseContentment
Book:Works: Comprising His Essays, Letters, and Journey Through Germany and Italy; with Notes, Notices, Etc
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“We have no participation in Being, because all human nature is ever midway between being born and dying, giving off only a vague image and shadow of itself, and a weak and uncertain opinion. And if you chance to fix your thoughts on trying to grasp its essence, it would be neither more nor less than if your tried to clutch water.”

IfsThinkingGivingTryingHumansWould BeWaterBornChanceOpinionDyingHuman NatureShadowWeakEssenceThoughtfulUncertainVagueParticipationClutchMidway
Book:The Essays
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“Learning is not to be tacked to the mind, but we must fuse and blend them together, not merely giving the mind a slight tincture, but a thorough and perfect dye. And if we perceive no evident change and improvement, it would be better to leave it alone; learning is a dangerous weapon, and apt to wound its master if it be wielded by a feeble hand, and by one not well acquainted with its use.”

IfsGivingMindWellsUseHandsWould BeTogetherPerfectLearningDangerousMastersWeaponsWoundsImprovementPerceiveEvidentThoroughFuse
Author:Michel de Montaigne
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“We are neither obstinately nor wilfully to oppose evils, nor truckle under them for want of courage, but that we are naturally to give way to them, according to their condition and our own, we ought to grant free passage to diseases; and I find they stay less with me who let them alone. And I have lost those which are reputed the most tenacious and obstinate of their own defervescence, without any help or art, and contrary to their rules. Let us a little permit nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we.”

WayWantGivingLittlesArtHelpingEvilLostConditionsOughtDiseaseAffairContraryGrantsPermitPassagesObstinateTenacious
Book:The Works of Michael de Montaigne: Comprising His Essays, Letters, and Journey Through Germany and Italy
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“It was truly very good reason that we should be beholden to God only, and to the favour of his grace, for the truth of so noble a belief, since from his sole bounty we receive the fruit of immortality, which consists in the enjoyment of eternal beatitude.... The more we give and confess to owe and render to God, we do it with the greater Christianity.”

GivingShouldReasonBeliefChristianityGreaterGraceEternalFruitVery GoodNobleImmortalityEnjoymentSoleFavourBounty
Book:Annotated Essays of Michel de Montaigne with English Grammar Exercises: by Michel de Montaigne (Author), Robert Powell (Editor)
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“Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.”

GivingSelf EsteemConfidenceSelf LoveSelf ConfidenceSelf AcceptanceLove YourselfSelf ConsciousLoving YourselfHave ConfidenceBe ConfidentChakraAccepting YourselfLoving OthersConfidence In YourselfSelf ConfidentConfidence And LoveLove My SelfGiving YourselfLove Your SelfSelf LovingLove Yourself MoreYourself And LoveLove And AcceptanceConfidence LoveConfidence In OthersLove AcceptanceAccepting LoveConfident In Yourself
Author:Michel de Montaigne
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“There is indeed a certain sense of gratification when we do a good deed that gives us inward satisfaction, and a generous pride that accompanies a good conscience…These testimonies of a good conscience are pleasant; and such a natural pleasure is very beneficial to us; it is the only payment that can never fail. “On Repentance”

GivingCertainNaturalPleasureFailingPrideConscienceSatisfactionDeedsGenerousPleasantRepentanceInwardTestimonyGood DeedsBeneficialGratificationPaymentAccompany
Book:Essays
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“As for our pupils talk, let his virtue and his sense of right and wrong shine through it and have no guide but reason. Make him understand that confessing an error which he discovers in his own argument even when he alone has noticed it is an act of justice and integrity, which are the main qualities he pursues; stubbornness and rancour are vulgar qualities, visible in common souls whereas to think again, to change one's mind and to give up a bad case on the heat of the argument are rare qualities showing strength and wisdom.”

ThinkingGivingMindSoulReasonJusticeCommonQualityCasesVirtueWords Of WisdomIntegrityGiving UpArgumentShiningErrorsEducationalGuidesPursueHeatVisibleVulgarPupilsStubbornnessConfessingStrength And Wisdom
Author:Michel de Montaigne
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“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.”

GivingFirstsStatesWaterRevolutionBeatsFruitRuinsEnjoyedShockRebellionOverwhelmed
Book:The Complete Works of Michael de Montaigne; Comprising; the Essays, Translated by Cotton; the Letters; the Journey Into Germany and Italy, Now First Translated; a Life by the Editor; Notes: ... Critical Opinions; ... the Éloges of MM. Jay and Villemain; a
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“Give me the provisions and whole apparatus of a kitchen, and I would starve.”

GivingWholeFoodGive MeCookingKitchenCulinaryProvision
Book: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
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“Most men are rich in borrowed sufficiency: a man may very well say a good thing, give a good answer, cite a good sentence, without at all seeing the force of either the one or the other.”

MenGivingWellsMayForceAnswersRichSeeingGood ThingsSentencesQuotationsBorrowedSufficiencyCiting
Book:Annotated Essays of Michel de Montaigne with English Grammar Exercises: by Michel de Montaigne (Author), Robert Powell (Editor)
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