Intelligence is required to be able to know that a man knows not. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
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
Certainly, if he still has himself, a man of understanding has lost nothing. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
A learned man is not learned in all things; but a sufficient man is sufficient throughout, even to ignorance itself. — 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
Not because Socrates said so,... I look upon all men as my compatriots. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
A man must live in the world and make the best of it, such as it is. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Men of simple understanding, little inquisitive and little instructed, make good Christians. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I listen with attention to the judgement of all men; but so far as I can remember, I have followed none but… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
There is nothing more notable in Socrates than that he found time, when he was an old man, to learn music and… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
After they had accustomed themselves at Rome to the spectacles of the slaughter of animals, they proceeded to those of the slaughter… — 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
To speak less of oneself than what one really is, is folly, not modesty; and to take that for current pay which… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Examples teach us that in military affairs, and all others of a like nature, study is apt to enervate and relax the… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
But the touch or company of any man whatsoever stirreth up their heat, which in their solitude was hushed and quiet, and… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Each man calls barbarism whatever is not his own practice; for indeed it seems we have no other test of truth and… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Man (in good earnest) is a marvellous vain, fickle, and unstable subject, and on whom it is very hard to form any… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The worthiest man to be known, and for a pattern to be presented to the world, he is the man of whom… — 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
We commend a horse for his strength, and sureness of foot, and not for his rich caparisons; a greyhound for his share… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
My library is my kingdom, and here I try to make my rule absolute-shutting off this single nook from wife, daughter and… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
No profession or occupation is more pleasing than the military; a profession or exercise both noble in execution (for the strongest, most… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Lying is a disgraceful vice, and one that Plutarch paints in most disgraceful colors, when he says that it is "affording testimony… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The first law that ever God gave to man was a law of pure obedience; it was a commandment naked and simple,… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The wise man lives as long as he ought, not so long as he can. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I must use these great men's virtues as a cloak for my weakness. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Man in sooth is a marvellous, vain, fickle, and unstable subject. — 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
