The memory represents to us not what we choose but what it pleases. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The laws of conscience, though we ascribe them to nature, actually come from custom. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Like the watermen who advance forward while they look backward. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Who does not in some sort live to others, does not live much to himself. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
In love, 'tis no other than frantic desire for that which flies from us. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Glory and repose are things that cannot possibly inhabit in one and the same place. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Poetry reproduces an indefinable mood that is more amorous than love itself. Venus is not so beautiful all naked, alive, and panting,… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
One open way of speaking introduces another open way of speaking, and draws out discoveries, like wine and love. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
In the education of children there is nothing like alluring the interest and affection; otherwise you only make so many asses laden… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Once you have decided to keep a certain pile, it is no longer yours; for you can't spend it. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Princes give me sufficiently if they take nothing from me, and do me much good if they do me no hurt; it… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Saying is one thing, doing another. We must consider the sermon and the preacher distinctly and apart. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Socrates, who was a perfect model in all great qualities, ... hit on a body and face so ugly and so incongruous… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I love those historians that are either very simple or most excellent. Such as are between both (which is the most common… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
It takes strong ears indeed to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure criticism without being stung… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Every place swarms with commentaries; of authors there is great scarcity. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Disappointment and feebleness imprint upon us a cowardly and valetudinarian virtue. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
A little of everything and nothing thoroughly, after the French fashion. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We should rather examine, who is better learned, than who is more learned. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
A man should not so much respect what he eats, as with whom he eats. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Socrates thought and so do I that the wisest theory about the gods is no theory at all. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
No-one is exempt from speaking nonsense – the only misfortune is to do it solemnly. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I love a friendship that flatters itself in the sharpness and vigor of its communications. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The oldest and best known evil was ever more supportable than one that was new and untried. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Praise is always pleasing, let it come from whom, or upon what account it will. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
This very Rome that we behold deserves our love ...: the only common and universal city. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear… — Michel De Montaigne Copy Share
The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share
