--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Certainly, if he still has himself, a man…" description: "\"Certainly, if he still has himself, a man of understanding has lost nothing.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/michel-de-montaigne-142_certainly_certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man_2257633.jpg" --- # Certainly, if he still has himself, a man of understanding… ![“Certainly, if he still has himself, a man of understanding has lost nothing.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/michel-de-montaigne-142_certainly_certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man_2257633.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/michel-de-montaigne-142_certainly_certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man_2257633.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/michel-de-montaigne-142_certainly_certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man_2257633.jpg) > “Certainly, if he still has himself, a man of understanding has lost nothing.” [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. If a person retains self-awareness, they retain understanding, meaning loss of self equates to loss of insight. **In simple terms:** Self-awareness preserves understanding. Key Takeaway Maintain self-knowledge. Themes self-awareness understanding identity Mood reflective contemplative Type philosophical inspirational When to use this quote - personal reflection - psychological counseling - education Key Concepts philosophy human nature Questions to Reflect On - How does self-awareness affect learning? - Can one understand without self? A Different Perspective It assumes self is static. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Learning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/learning/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/) ## Related quotes > [“Certainly man is a remarkably vain, variable, and elusive subject.10 It is hard to base any constant, uniform judgment upon him.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/certainly-man-is-a-remarkably-vain-variable-and-elusive-subject-10-it/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Searching but not finding. Understanding anywhere we're lost in a masquerade.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-benson/searching-but-not-finding-understanding-anywhere-we-re-lost-in-a/) [George Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-benson/) > [However, no human being - and certainly no man - has the right to define for me what my understanding of God is.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/haleh-afshar-baroness-afshar/however-no-human-being-and-certainly-no-man-has-the-right-to-define/) Haleh Afshar, Baroness Afshar > [“Certainly a man can be destroyed by the love of a woman, of this much I'm sure. But do you really believe a man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-hogg/certainly-a-man-can-be-destroyed-by-the-love-of-a-woman-of-this-much/) Nicholas Hogg > [Certainly man is of kin to the beasts by his body; and if he be not kin to God by his spirit, he is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francis-bacon/certainly-man-is-of-kin-to-the-beasts-by-his-body-and-if-he-be-not/) [Francis Bacon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francis-bacon/) > [The size of a man's understanding might always be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-might-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [“Mm, there was no need, but that s how the mind goes on working. The mind goes on creating troubles which are not needed…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/mm-there-was-no-need-but-that-s-how-the-mind-goes-on-working-the-mind/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [“Nobody likes these things life hands us. But part of becoming a man is understanding how to face them head on instead of running…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mira-jacob/nobody-likes-these-things-life-hands-us-but-part-of-becoming-a-man-is/) [Mira Jacob](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mira-jacob/) > [The size of a man's understanding can be justly measured by his mirth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-can-be-justly-measured-by-his-mirth/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [The man of understanding finds everything laughable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-man-of-understanding-finds-everything-laughable/) [Johann Wolfgang von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) > [“There is a big difference between knowing and understanding. If I had a choice of being remembered as a knowledgeable or an understanding man,give…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-wood/there-is-a-big-difference-between-knowing-and-understanding-if-i-had/) [Rob Wood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-wood/) > [“The size of a man’s understanding may always be justly measured by his mirth.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-johnson/the-size-of-a-man-s-understanding-may-always-be-justly-measured-by/) [Samuel Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-johnson/) > [It is absolutely impossible at the same time to be a man of understanding and not to be ashamed to gratify the body.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clement-of-alexandria/it-is-absolutely-impossible-at-the-same-time-to-be-a-man-of/) [Clement of Alexandria](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clement-of-alexandria/) > [A man of understanding finds less difficulty in submitting to a wrong-headed fellow, than in attempting to set him right.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/a-man-of-understanding-finds-less-difficulty-in-submitting-to-a-wrong/) [Francois de La Rochefoucauld](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francois-de-la-rochefoucauld/) > [“The intellectual or logical man, rather than the understanding or observant man, set himself to imagine designs — to dictate purposes to God.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edgar-allan-poe/the-intellectual-or-logical-man-rather-than-the-understanding-or/) [Edgar Allan Poe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edgar-allan-poe/) ## More by Michel de Montaigne > [No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-man-is-exempt-from-saying-silly-things-the-mischief-is-to-say-them/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The laws keep up their credit, not by being just, but because they are laws; 'tis the mystic foundation of their authority; they have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-laws-keep-up-their-credit-not-by-being-just-but-because-they-are/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Every one rushes elsewhere and into the future, because no one wants to face one's own inner self.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/every-one-rushes-elsewhere-and-into-the-future-because-no-one-wants/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/beauty-is-the-true-prerogative-of-women-and-so-peculiarly-their-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The height and value of true virtue consists in the facility, utility, and pleasure of its exercise; so far from difficulty, that boys, as…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-height-and-value-of-true-virtue-consists-in-the-facility-utility/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/fie-on-the-eloquence-that-leaves-us-craving-itself-not-things/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/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, always clear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-plainest-sign-of-wisdom-is-a-continual-cheerfulness-her-state-is/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [The corruption of the age is made up by the particular contribution of every individual man; some contribute treachery, others injustice, atheism, tyranny, avarice,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-corruption-of-the-age-is-made-up-by-the-particular-contribution/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-people-must-be-talking-about-me-i-would-have-it-to-be-truthfully/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/most-pleasures-embrace-us-but-to-strangle/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [In true friendship, in which I am expert, I give myself to my friend more than I draw him to me. I not only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/in-true-friendship-in-which-i-am-expert-i-give-myself-to-my-friend/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [There are as many and innumerable degrees of wit, as there are cubits between this and heaven.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/there-are-as-many-and-innumerable-degrees-of-wit-as-there-are-cubits/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/a-man-has-need-of-tough-ears-to-hear-himself-fairly-judged/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Lucius Arruntius killed himself, he said, to escape both the future and the past.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/lucius-arruntius-killed-himself-he-said-to-escape-both-the-future-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I have a vocabulary all my own. I pass the time when itis wet and disagreeable. Whenit is fine I do not wish to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-have-a-vocabulary-all-my-own-i-pass-the-time-when-itis-wet-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) [Explore all 1,131 Michel de Montaigne quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) ## More Certainly quotes > [For not only every democracy, but certainly every republic, bears within itself the seeds of its own destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/for-not-only-every-democracy-but-certainly-every-republic-bears/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Ambition drives you on, ability certainly helps, but the fickle finger of fate and luck are great things.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fergus-henderson/ambition-drives-you-on-ability-certainly-helps-but-the-fickle-finger/) [Fergus Henderson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fergus-henderson/) > [I would have done well as a gypsy child, I think. A circus baby. I coulda played a great street urchin or ragamuffin. Or…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/natasha-lyonne/i-would-have-done-well-as-a-gypsy-child-i-think-a-circus-baby-i/) [Natasha Lyonne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/natasha-lyonne/) > [I mean those people who are interested in good government will certainly contribute in order to make certain there's some counter-balance to those whose…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-breyer/i-mean-those-people-who-are-interested-in-good-government-will/) [Stephen Breyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-breyer/) > [I'm certainly not a perfect mother, but I'm trying to be what my mother wasn't for me. My mother's battled depression, so I understand…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dorothy-hamill/i-m-certainly-not-a-perfect-mother-but-i-m-trying-to-be-what-my/) [Dorothy Hamill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dorothy-hamill/) > [Design certainly has a cosmetic, aesthetic aim. It always aims at making things beautiful. But relevance is just as important. I often say, 'If…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yves-behar/design-certainly-has-a-cosmetic-aesthetic-aim-it-always-aims-at/) [Yves Behar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yves-behar/) > [If we can send a guy to the moon we can certainly go a quarter of a mile and not get hurt.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-prudhomme/if-we-can-send-a-guy-to-the-moon-we-can-certainly-go-a-quarter-of-a/) Don Prudhomme > [I've certainly seen a lot of my cartoonist friends embrace 'Little Lulu' in a much deeper way because their kids love it so much.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seth/i-ve-certainly-seen-a-lot-of-my-cartoonist-friends-embrace-little/) [Seth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seth/) > [Righteousness and faith certainly are instrumental in moving mountains - if moving mountains accomplishes God's purposes and is in accordance with His will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-a-bednar/righteousness-and-faith-certainly-are-instrumental-in-moving/) [David A. Bednar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-a-bednar/) > [I have never really been fond of animals. I certainly wasn't an 'animal lover' when I became involved in the movement. I just came…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-singer/i-have-never-really-been-fond-of-animals-i-certainly-wasn-t-an-animal/) [Peter Singer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-singer/) > [Certainly it is not a democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anwar-ibrahim/certainly-it-is-not-a-democracy/) [Anwar Ibrahim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anwar-ibrahim/) > [Spain are certainly one of the best teams in the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kieran-trippier/spain-are-certainly-one-of-the-best-teams-in-the-world/) [Kieran Trippier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kieran-trippier/) > [I'm certainly not a white supremacist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/corey-stewart/i-m-certainly-not-a-white-supremacist/) [Corey Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/corey-stewart/) > [I certainly know that on our first tour of America in 1968, David Crosby came to see us backstage at the Fillmore East in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/justin-hayward/i-certainly-know-that-on-our-first-tour-of-america-in-1968-david/) [Justin Hayward](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/justin-hayward/) > [Will capitalist economies operate at full employment in the absence of routine intervention? Certainly not. Are deviations from full employment a social problem? Obviously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/janet-yellen/will-capitalist-economies-operate-at-full-employment-in-the-absence/) [Janet Yellen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/janet-yellen/) Browse all 1,298 Certainly quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Certainly, if he still has himself, a man of understanding has lost nothing.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man-of-understanding-has-lost/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Certainly" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man-of-understanding-has-lost/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/michel-de-montaigne-142_certainly_certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man_2257633.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/michel-de-montaigne-142_certainly_certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man_2257633.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/977/michel-de-montaigne-142_certainly_certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man_2257633.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Certainly, if he still has himself, a man of understanding has lost nothing.” — Michel de Montaigne", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Michel de Montaigne", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Certainly, if he still has himself,...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man-of-understanding-has-lost/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/certainly-if-he-still-has-himself-a-man-of-understanding-has-lost/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```