If I were of the trade, I should naturalize art as much as they "artialize" nature. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
He who falls obstinate in his courage, if he falls he fights from his knees. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
When we see a man with bad shoes, we say it is no wonder, if he is a shoemaker. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I will follow the right side even to the fire, but excluding the fire if I can. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I aim here only at revealing myself, who will perhaps be different tomorrow, if I learn something new which changes me. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If you press me to say why I loved him, I can say no more than it was because he was he,… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If by being overstudious, we impair our health and spoil our good humor, let us give it up. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If health and a fair day smile upon me, I am a very good fellow; if a corn trouble my toe, I… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Virtue cannot be followed but for herself, and if one sometimes borrows her mask to some other purpose, she presently pulls it… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If you want it to be so, history can be a waste of time; it can also be, if you want it… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Not being able to govern events, I govern myself, and apply myself to them if they will not apply themselves to me. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The most ordinary things, the most common and familiar, if we could see them in their true light, would turn out to… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
In my opinion, the most fruitful and natural play of the mind is in conversation. I find it sweeter than any other… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If these Essays were worthy of being judged, it might fall out, in my opinion, that they would not find much favour,… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We must learn to endure what we cannot avoid. Our life is composed, like the harmony of the world, of contrary things,… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We are nearer neighbors to ourselves than the whiteness of snow or the weight of stones are to us: if man does… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The general order of things that takes care of fleas and moles also takes care of men, if they will have the… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
My opinion is that we must lend ourselves to others and give ourselves only to ourselves. If my will happened to be… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If falsehood, like truth, had but one face, we would be more on equal terms. For we would consider the contrary of… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We have no participation in Being, because all human nature is ever midway between being born and dying, giving off only a… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
For all parts of the body that we see fit to expose to the wind and air are found fit to endure… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Memory is a wonderfully useful tool, and without it judgement does its work with difficulty; it is entirely lacking in me… Now,the… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Marriage has, for its share, usefulness, justice, honour, and constancy; a stale but more durable pleasure. Love is grounded on pleasure alone,… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
God might grant us riches, honours, life, and even health, to our own hurt; for every thing that is pleasing to us… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Learning is not to be tacked to the mind, but we must fuse and blend them together, not merely giving the mind… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
A tutor should not be continually thundering instruction into the ears of his pupil, as if he were pouring it through a… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Why dost thou complain of this world? It detains thee not; thy own cowardice is the cause, if thou livest in pain. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
When I play with my cat, who knows whether I do not make her more sport than she makes me? — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Amongst so many borrowed things, am glad if I can steal one, disguising and altering it for some new service. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We may so seize on virtue, that if we embrace it with an overgreedy and violent desire, it may become vicious. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Knowledge is an excellent drug; but no drug has virtue enough to preserve itself from corruption and decay, if the vessel be… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
And if nobody reads me, shall I have wasted my time, when I have beguiled so many idle hours with such pleasant… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
There is not one of us that would not be worse than kings, if so continually corrupted as they are with a… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If my mind could gain a firm footing, I would not make essays, I would make decisions; but it is always in… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
A good marriage (if any there be) refuses the conditions of love and endeavors to present those of amity. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Might I have had my own will, I would not have married Wisdom herself, if she would have had me. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
A father is very miserable who has no other hold on his children's affection than the need they have of his assistance,… — 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
