The public weal requires that men should betray, and lie, and massacre. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
A man must not always tell all, for that be folly; but what a man says should be what he thinks. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The births of all things are weak and tender and therefore we should have our eyes intent on beginnings. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
All the fame you should look for in life is to have lived it quietly. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Thus we should beware of clinging to vulgar opinions, and judge things by reason's way, not by popular say. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Others form man; I tell of him, and portray a particular one, very ill-formed, whom I should really make very different from… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
And therefore, Reader, I myself am the subject of my book: it is not reasonable that you should employ your leisure on… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If I were a maker of books I should compile a register, with comments, of different deaths. He who should teach people… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Lay a beam between these two towers of such width as we need to walk on: there is no philosophical wisdom of… — 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
All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Is it reasonable that even the arts should take advantage of and profit by our natural stupidity and feebleness of mind? — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
As by some might be saide of me: that here I have but gathered a nosegay of strange floures, and have put… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
It is far more probable that our senses should deceive us, than that an old woman should be carried up a chimney… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
It was truly very good reason that we should be beholden to God only, and to the favour of his grace, for… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
If my intentions were not to be read in my eyes and voice, I should not have survived so long without quarrels… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Nature has with a Motherly Tenderness observed this, that the Action she has enjoyned us for our Necessity should be also pleasant… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The pleasure we hold in esteem for the course of our lives ought to have a greater share of our time dedicated… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
The shortest way to arrive at glory should be to do that for conscience which we do for glory. And the virtue… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Now, since everything else is furnished with the exact amount of needle and thread required to maintain its being, it is in… — 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
There is no passion that so much transports men from their right judgments as anger. No one would demur upon punishing a… — 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
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
Children's playthings are not sports and should be deemed as their most serious actions. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Unless a man feels he has a good enough memory, he should never venture to lie. — 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
If I were of the trade, I should naturalize art as much as they "artialize" nature. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
He who is not sure of his memory, should not undertake the trade of lying. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Children's plays are not sports, and should be deemed as their most serious actions. — 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 one should be subjected to force over things which belonged to him. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
Anyone who does not feel sufficiently strong in memory should not meddle with lying. — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
I would rather produce my passions than brood over them at my expense; they grow languid when they have vent and expression.… — Michel de Montaigne Copy Share Image
It is an injustice that an old, broken, half-dead father should enjoy alone, in a corner of his hearth, possessions that would… — 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
