Wisdom Quotes by Michel de Montaigne

Wisdom has its excesses, and has no less need of moderation than folly.

— Michel de Montaigne

We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow.

— Michel de Montaigne

A wise man sees as much as he ought, not as much as he can.

— Michel de Montaigne

The most manifest sign of wisdom is continued cheerfulness.

— Michel De Montaigne

A man must become wise at his own expense.

— Michel de Montaigne

Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.

— Michel de Montaigne

Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people.

— Michel de Montaigne

Wise men have more to learn of fools than fools of wise men.

— Michel de Montaigne

The plainest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon,…

— Michel De Montaigne

The most certain sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness; her state is like that of things in the regions above the…

— Michel de Montaigne

Wisdom is a solid and entire building, of which every piece keeps its place and bears its mark.

— Michel de Montaigne

Learned we may be with another man's learning: we can only be wise with wisdom of our own.

— Michel de Montaigne

The most evident token and apparent sign of true wisdom is a constant and unconstrained rejoicing.

— Michel de Montaigne

Stupidity and wisdom meet in the same centre of sentiment and resolution, in the suffering of human accidents.

— Michel de Montaigne

Might I have had my own will, I would not have married Wisdom herself, if she would have had me.

— Michel de Montaigne

For me, who only desire to become wise, not more learned or eloquent, these logical or Aristotelian dispositions of parts are of…

— Michel de Montaigne

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

It is a disaster that wisdom forbids you to be satisfied with yourself and always sends you away dissatisfied and fearful, whereas…

— Michel de Montaigne

Socrates ... brought human wisdom back down from heaven, where she was wasting her time, and restored her to man… It is…

— Michel de Montaigne

If falsehood, like truth, had but one face, we would be more on equal terms. For we would consider the contrary of…

— Michel de Montaigne

The wise man should withdraw his soul within, out of the crowd, and keep it in freedom and power to judge things…

— Michel de Montaigne

Human wisdom makes as ill use of her talent when she exercises it in rescinding from the number and sweetness of those…

— Michel de Montaigne

As for our pupils talk, let his virtue and his sense of right and wrong shine through it and have no guide…

— Michel de Montaigne

.. since it was true that study, even when done properly, can only teach us what wisdom, right conduct and determination consist…

— Michel de Montaigne

“The soul in which philosophy dwells should by its health make even the body healthy. It should make its tranquillity and gladness…

— Michel de Montaigne

“Would I fortify myself against the fear of death, it must be at the expense of Seneca: would I extract consolation for…

— Michel de Montaigne

The profit we possess after study is to have become better and wiser.

— Michel de Montaigne

A wise man loses nothing, if he but save himself.

— Michel de Montaigne

A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.

— Michel de Montaigne

The only thing certain is nothing is certain.

— Michel de Montaigne

Only the fools are certain and assured.

— Michel de Montaigne

He who fears he will suffer, already suffers from his fear.

— Michel de Montaigne

Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!

— Michel de Montaigne

The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.

— Michel de Montaigne

The wise man lives as long as he ought, not so long as he can.

— Michel de Montaigne

Our wisdom and deliberation for the most part follow the lead of chance.

— Michel de Montaigne

Children's playthings are not sports and should be deemed as their most serious actions.

— Michel de Montaigne

Though we may be learned by another's knowledge, we can never be wise but by our own experience.

— Michel de Montaigne

We can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.

— Michel de Montaigne

I moreover affirm that our wisdom itself, and wisest consultations, for the most part commit themselves to the conduct of chance.

— Michel de Montaigne