--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: He who does not live in some degree for…" description: "\"He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michel-de-montaigne-142_degrees_he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for_283617.jpg" --- # He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly… ![“He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michel-de-montaigne-142_degrees_he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for_283617.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michel-de-montaigne-142_degrees_he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for_283617.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michel-de-montaigne-142_degrees_he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for_283617.jpg) > “He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.” [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. Living for others enriches one's own life, creating purpose and fulfillment. **In simple terms:** Serving others gives personal meaning. Key Takeaway Practice generosity. Themes ethics selflessness purpose Mood inspirational thoughtful Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - volunteering - career - daily interactions Key Concepts humanism philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How do you balance self‑care with helping others? - What small acts can you do today? A Different Perspective Self‑sacrifice can lead to burnout. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Degree Hardly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degree-hardly-2744935/) [Degrees](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Does Live](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/does-live-1459179/) [Greatness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greatness/) [Hardly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardly/) [Hardly Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hardly-lives-2744934/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives/) [Love](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/love/) ## Related quotes > [Life hardly ever lives up to our anxieties.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-monash/life-hardly-ever-lives-up-to-our-anxieties/) [Paul Monash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-monash/) > [Who does not in some sort live to others, does not live much to himself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/who-does-not-in-some-sort-live-to-others-does-not-live-much-to-himself/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Man does not live by destruction.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mahatma-gandhi/man-does-not-live-by-destruction/) [Mahatma Gandhi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mahatma-gandhi/) > [“Life does not live.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ferdinand-k-rnberger/life-does-not-live/) [Ferdinand Kürnberger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ferdinand-k-rnberger/) > [HOW DOES ONE LIVE IF LIVING IS WITH OUT YOU](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nadine-jonker/how-does-one-live-if-living-is-with-out-you/) [NADINE JONKER](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nadine-jonker/) > [“A dog with big names does not live to see many day.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aihebholo-oria-okonoboh/a-dog-with-big-names-does-not-live-to-see-many-day/) [Aihebholo-oria Okonoboh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aihebholo-oria-okonoboh/) > [“if you take away everything a man lives for, then what does he live for?”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-paul-evans/if-you-take-away-everything-a-man-lives-for-then-what-does-he-live-for/) [Richard Paul Evans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-paul-evans/) > [The world is how harsh ..also does not live and die,](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mak-786/the-world-is-how-harsh-also-does-not-live-and-die/) [Mak\_786](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mak-786/) > [Greatness can’t be imposed; it has to come from within. But it does live within all of us.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jeff-sutherland/greatness-can-t-be-imposed-it-has-to-come-from-within-but-it-does/) [Jeff Sutherland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jeff-sutherland/) > [“Man does not live by bread alone.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fyodor-dostoevsky/man-does-not-live-by-bread-alone/) [Fyodor Dostoevsky](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fyodor-dostoevsky/) > [Man does not live by GNP alone.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-samuelson/man-does-not-live-by-gnp-alone/) [Paul Samuelson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-samuelson/) > [“One does not live without death.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dj-ty/one-does-not-live-without-death/) [Dj Ty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dj-ty/) > [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/) > [Judge not; speak hardly at all; love and act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eliphas-levi/judge-not-speak-hardly-at-all-love-and-act/) [Eliphas Levi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eliphas-levi/) > [Those who have not been stung will hardly fear a bee the same as those who have.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sara-sheridan/those-who-have-not-been-stung-will-hardly-fear-a-bee-the-same-as/) [Sara Sheridan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sara-sheridan/) ## 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 Degrees quotes > [ \[Photography is \] likewise even French impressionists. So the Sculls bought pop. It was politics, and they moved with it. And I think that… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/garry-winogrand/photography-is-likewise-even-french-impressionists-so-the-sculls/) [Garry Winogrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/garry-winogrand/) > [The Only cure for nihilism is for liberal democratic societies - their electorates, their judiciary, and their political leadership- to insist that force is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-ignatieff/the-only-cure-for-nihilism-is-for-liberal-democratic-societies-their/) [Michael Ignatieff](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-ignatieff/) > [A free society depends upon a high degree of mutual trust. The public will not give that trust to officials who are not seen…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/archibald-cox/a-free-society-depends-upon-a-high-degree-of-mutual-trust-the-public/) [Archibald Cox](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/archibald-cox/) > [I was a full time student either at Stony Brook or NYU getting my masters degree. After I graduated with my masters I was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-algieri/i-was-a-full-time-student-either-at-stony-brook-or-nyu-getting-my/) [Chris Algieri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-algieri/) > [Life comes from death. To the degree that I can live in the death of Jesus - to that degree I can channel God's…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louie-giglio/life-comes-from-death-to-the-degree-that-i-can-live-in-the-death-of/) [Louie Giglio](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louie-giglio/) > [By heaven we understand a state of happiness infinite in degree, and endless in duration.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/by-heaven-we-understand-a-state-of-happiness-infinite-in-degree-and/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [As hard as I try to live with some degree of faith in my life, I just can't believe that the full moon can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dana-gould/as-hard-as-i-try-to-live-with-some-degree-of-faith-in-my-life-i-just/) [Dana Gould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dana-gould/) > [The male dares to be different to the degree that he accepts his passivity and his desire to be female, his fagginess. The farthest…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/valerie-solanas/the-male-dares-to-be-different-to-the-degree-that-he-accepts-his/) [Valerie Solanas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/valerie-solanas/) > [ What are you for? It may be, to a degree, consoling that white brothers and sisters did not vote for \[Donald\] Trump, and do… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-eric-dyson/what-are-you-for-it-may-be-to-a-degree-consoling-that-white-brothers/) [Michael Eric Dyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-eric-dyson/) > [My mother taught me three things, respect, knowledge-search for knowledge, it's an eternal journey. That's like my hair-cut, the line, 360 degrees, find knowledge…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tupac-shakur/my-mother-taught-me-three-things-respect-knowledge-search-for/) [Tupac Shakur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tupac-shakur/) > [I work with different actors with varied degrees of experience.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sean-baker/i-work-with-different-actors-with-varied-degrees-of-experience/) [Sean Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sean-baker/) > [We are only alive to the degree that we can let ourselves be moved.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-hyde/we-are-only-alive-to-the-degree-that-we-can-let-ourselves-be-moved/) [Lewis Hyde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lewis-hyde/) > [Like many others, I have deep misgivings about the state of education in the United States. Too many of our students fail to graduate…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-gates/like-many-others-i-have-deep-misgivings-about-the-state-of-education/) [Bill Gates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-gates/) > [The insolence of base minds in success is boundless; and would scarce admit of a comparison, did not they themselves furnish us with one…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laurence-sterne/the-insolence-of-base-minds-in-success-is-boundless-and-would-scarce/) [Laurence Sterne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laurence-sterne/) > [Each year we pump at least six billion tons of heat-trapping carbon into the innermost layer of our atmosphere, whose outer extent is only…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ross-gelbspan/each-year-we-pump-at-least-six-billion-tons-of-heat-trapping-carbon/) [Ross Gelbspan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ross-gelbspan/) [Browse all 3,453 Degrees quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/degrees/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for-others-hardly-lives-for/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Degrees" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for-others-hardly-lives-for/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michel-de-montaigne-142_degrees_he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for_283617.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michel-de-montaigne-142_degrees_he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for_283617.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/47b/michel-de-montaigne-142_degrees_he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for_283617.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.” — 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": "He who does not live in...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for-others-hardly-lives-for/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/he-who-does-not-live-in-some-degree-for-others-hardly-lives-for/#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 } } ] } ```