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
I find that the best virtue I have has in it some tincture of vice. — 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
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
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 Copy Share Image
If love and ambition should be in equal balance, and come to jostle with equal force, I make no doubt but that… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Oh, a friend! How true is that old saying, that the enjoyment of one is sweeter and more necessary than that of… — 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
The strength of any plan depends on the time. Circumstances and things eternally shift and change. — 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
“I know not what quintessence of all this mixture, which, seizing my whole will, carried it to plunge and lose itself in… — 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
There is nothing so extreme that is not allowed by the custom of some nation or other. — 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
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
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
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
