---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Human wisdom makes as ill use of her…"
description: "\"Human wisdom makes as ill use of her talent when she exercises it in rescinding from the number and sweetness of those pleasures that are naturally our..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/michel-de-montaigne-142_alleviate_human-wisdom-makes-as-ill-use-of-her-tal_1310865.jpg"
---

#  Human wisdom makes as ill use of her talent when she…

![“Human wisdom makes as ill use of her talent when she exercises it in rescinding from the number and sweetness of those pleasures that are naturally our due, as she employs it favorably and well in artificially disguising and tricking out the ills of life to alleviate the sense of them.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/michel-de-montaigne-142_alleviate_human-wisdom-makes-as-ill-use-of-her-tal_1310865.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/michel-de-montaigne-142_alleviate_human-wisdom-makes-as-ill-use-of-her-tal_1310865.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/e8d/michel-de-montaigne-142_alleviate_human-wisdom-makes-as-ill-use-of-her-tal_1310865.jpg)

> “Human wisdom makes as ill use of her talent when she exercises it in rescinding from the number and sweetness of those pleasures that are naturally our due, as she employs it favorably and well in artificially disguising and tricking out the ills of life to alleviate the sense of them.”

[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.

The passage warns that intellect can misapply itself, preferring artificial pleasures over natural, rightful ones, leading to a distorted life.

**In simple terms:** Intellect can chase fake joys instead of true, simple pleasures.

Key Takeaway

Seek balance between reason and natural enjoyment.

Themes

philosophy ethics human nature

Mood

thoughtful contemplative

Type

literary philosophical

When to use this quote

- daily decision making
- consumer choices
- personal growth

Key Concepts

self‑deception moderation authenticity

Questions to Reflect On

- What simple pleasures do you neglect?
- How can reason serve rather than hinder happiness?

A Different Perspective

It may overgeneralize human behavior and ignore cultural differences in pleasure.

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[Exercise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exercise/) [Human wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-wisdom/) [Humans](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humans/) [Ill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ill/) [Life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/life/) [Pleasure](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pleasure/) [Sweetness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sweetness/) [Talent](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talent/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/)

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