Learned we may be with another man's learning: we can only be wise with wisdom of our own. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Give me the provisions and whole apparatus of a kitchen, and I would starve. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Children's games are hardly games. Children are never more serious than when they play. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We are more solicitous that men speak of us, than how they speak. — 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
Reason has so many forms that we do not know which to choose-Experiment has no fewer. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The strength of any plan depends on the time. Circumstances and things eternally shift and change. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We seem ambitious God's whole work to undo. ...With new diseases on ourselves we war, And with new physic, a worse engine… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I see men ordinarily more eager to discover a reason for things than to find out whether the things are so. — 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
Saying is one thing, doing another. We must consider the sermon and the preacher distinctly and apart. — 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
The secret counsels of princes are a troublesome burden to such as have only to execute them. — 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
In love, 'tis no other than frantic desire for that which flies from us. — 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
Tis faith alone that vividly and certainly comprehends the deep mysteries of our religion. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Since we cannot attain unto it, let us revenge ourselves with railing against it. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Report followeth not all goodness, except difficulty and rarity be joined thereto. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Rash and incessant scolding runs into custom and renders itself despised. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I find that the best virtue I have has in it some tincture of vice. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I have never known a greater miracle, or monster, than myself. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The memory represents to us not what we choose but what it pleases. — 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
It is an absolute perfection... to get the very most out of one's individuality. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Nothing else but an insatiate thirst of enjoying a greedily desired object. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I do not care so much what I am to others as I care what I am to myself. — 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
