Michel de Montaigne

“it is myself I paint. My”

— Michel de Montaigne

Oh, what a valiant faculty is hope.

— Michel de Montaigne

Habit is second nature.

— Michel de Montaigne

He loves little who loves by rule.

— Michel de Montaigne

I do not teach. I relate.

— Michel de Montaigne

No man is a hero to his own valet.

— Michel de Montaigne

To philosophize is to doubt.

— Michel de Montaigne

To philosophize is to learn to die.

— Michel de Montaigne

Women are more susceptible to pain than to pleasure.

— Michel de Montaigne

I would rather be old for a shorter time than be old before my time.

— Michel de Montaigne

He who would teach men to die would teach them to live.

— Michel de Montaigne

The curiosity of knowing things has been given to man for a scourge.

— Michel de Montaigne

Let [children] be able to do all things, and love to do only the good.

— Michel de Montaigne

Kings and philosophers defecate, and so do ladies.

— Michel de Montaigne

Every day I hear stupid people say things that are not stupid.

— Michel de Montaigne

A strong imagination begetteth opportunity.

— Michel de Montaigne

Though we may be learned by another's knowledge, we can never be wise but by our own experience.

— Michel de Montaigne

As for extraordinary things, all the provision in the world would not suffice.

— Michel de Montaigne

Nothing else but an insatiate thirst of enjoying a greedily desired object.

— Michel de Montaigne

All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.

— Michel de Montaigne

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

— Michel de Montaigne

It is commonly seen by experience that excellent memories do often accompany weak judgements.

— Michel de Montaigne

My business is only to keep myself in motion, whilst motion pleases me; I only walk for the walk's sake.

— Michel de Montaigne

It is in the enjoyment and not in mere possession that makes for happiness.

— Michel de Montaigne

An agreeable opinion is accepted as true: this is the proof by pleasure (or, as the church says, the proof by strength),…

— Michel De Montaigne

Even from their infancy we frame them to the sports of love: their instruction, behavior, attire, grace, learning and all their words…

— Michel de Montaigne

If a man should importune me to give a reason why I loved him, I find it could no otherwise be expressed,…

— Michel de Montaigne

I never rebel so much against France as not to regard Paris with a friendly eye; she has had my heart since…

— Michel de Montaigne

Now there cannot be first principles for men, unless the Divinity has revealed them; all the rest--beginning, middle, and end--isnothing but dreams…

— Michel de Montaigne

The entire lower world was created in the likeness of the higher world. All that exists in the higher world appears like…

— Michel de Montaigne

There is, nevertheless, a certain respect and a general duty of humanity that ties us, not only to beasts that have life…

— Michel de Montaigne

I do not believe, from what I have been told about this people, that there is anything barbarous or savage about them,…

— Michel de Montaigne

“Compare with such a one the common rabble of mankind, stupid and mean-spirited, servile, instable, and continually floating with the tempest of…

— Michel de Montaigne

What we are told of the inhabitants of Brazil, that they never die but of old age, is attributed to the tranquility…

— Michel de Montaigne

Since philosophy is the art which teaches us how to live, and since children need to learn it as much as we…

— Michel de Montaigne

There is no passion that so much transports men from their right judgments as anger. No one would demur upon punishing a…

— Michel de Montaigne

“We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure frank criticism without being…

— Michel de Montaigne

One man may have some special knowledge at first-hand about the character of a river or a spring, who otherwise knows only…

— Michel de Montaigne

Whenever a new discovery is reported to the world, they say first, It is probably not true, Then after, when the truth…

— Michel de Montaigne

“The soul in which philosophy dwells should by its health make even the body healthy. It should make its tranquillity and gladness…

— Michel de Montaigne