Reason has so many forms that we do not know which to choose-Experiment has no fewer. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
This notion [skepticism] is more clearly understood by asking "What do I know?" — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
There is a plague on Man, the opinion that he knows something. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Intelligence is required to be able to know that a man knows not. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
A man must keep a little back shop where he can be himself without reserve. In solitude alone can he know true… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
There is nothing of evil in life for him who rightly comprehends that death is no evil; to know how to die… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
In nine lifetimes, you'll never know as much about your cat as your cat knows about you. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
An ancient father says that a dog we know is better company than a man whose language we do not understand. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The most useful and honorable science and occupation for a woman is the science of housekeeping. I know some that are miserly,… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
When a Roman was returning from a trip, he used to send someone ahead to let his wife know, so as not… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I do not know whether I would not like much better to have produced one perfectly formed child by intercourse with the… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I admire the assurance and confidence everyone has in himself, whereas there is hardly anything I am sure I know or that… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
No one but yourself knows whether you are cowardly and cruel, or loyal and devout; others do not see you; they surmise… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
In order always to learn something from others (which is the finest school there can be), I observe in my travels this… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We do not know where death awaits us: so let us wait for it everywhere. To practice death is to practice freedom.… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We hold death, poverty, and grief for our principal enemies; but this death, which some repute the most dreadful of all dreadful… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
It is for little souls, that truckle under the weight of affairs, not to know how clearly to disengage themselves, and not… — 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
'As a man who knows how to make his education into a rule of life not a means of showing off; who… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
.. since it was true that study, even when done properly, can only teach us what wisdom, right conduct and determination consist… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
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 Copy Share Image
Men do not know the natural infirmity of their mind: it does nothing but ferret and quest, and keeps incessantly whirling around,… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The whole idea we have for their chastity is ridiculous. They would have to become numb and invisible to please us. I… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Now, since our condition accommodates things to itself, and transforms them according to itself, we no longer know things in their reality;… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Traveling through the world produces a marvelous clarity in the judgment of men. We are all of us confined and enclosed within… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The great and glorious masterpiece of humanity is to know how to live with a purpose. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
We are, I know not how, double in ourselves, so that what we believe we disbelieve, and cannot rid ourselves of what… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
This idea is more surely understood by interrogation; WHAT DO I KNOW? which I bear as my motto with the emblem of… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The first lessons with which we should irrigate his mind should be those which teach him to know himself, and to know… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Meditation is a rich and powerful method of study for anyone who knows how to examine his mind. — 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
Man is quite insane. He wouldn?t know how to create a maggot, and he creates Gods by the dozen. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Even in the midst of compassion we feel within I know not what tart sweet titillation of malicious pleasure in seeing others… — 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