--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: I will follow the right side even to the…" description: "\"I will follow the right side even to the fire, but excluding the fire if I can.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fire_i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the_381589.jpg" --- # I will follow the right side even to the fire, but… ![“I will follow the right side even to the fire, but excluding the fire if I can.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fire_i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the_381589.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fire_i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the_381589.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fire_i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the_381589.jpg) > “I will follow the right side even to the fire, but excluding the fire if I can.” [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. One should pursue the correct course even if it leads to danger, but avoid unnecessary harm when possible. **In simple terms:** Do the right thing, but steer clear of needless danger. Key Takeaway Balance duty with self‑preservation. Themes ethics caution decision‑making Mood thoughtful serious Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - legal dilemmas - medical ethics - military orders - personal safety decisions Key Concepts Stoicism pragmatism risk assessment Questions to Reflect On - When does avoiding harm become cowardice? - How to weigh principle against personal risk? A Different Perspective May cause conflict when duty and safety clash. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Fire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) [Inspirational](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspirational/) [Integrity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/integrity/) ## Related quotes > [All persons ought to endeavor to follow what is right, and not what is established.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aristotle/all-persons-ought-to-endeavor-to-follow-what-is-right-and-not-what-is/) [Aristotle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aristotle/) > [Two people can form a community by excluding a third.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/two-people-can-form-a-community-by-excluding-a-third/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Excluding certain problems from the political debate by making it a crime to discuss them won't lead to the disappearance of these concerns, let…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/geert-wilders/excluding-certain-problems-from-the-political-debate-by-making-it-a/) [Geert Wilders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/geert-wilders/) > [I certainly do not support excluding faith from public life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/safak-pavey/i-certainly-do-not-support-excluding-faith-from-public-life/) [Safak Pavey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/safak-pavey/) > [You can find the independence within yourself, when you take the time to follow the right people that offer you a golden opportunity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederica-ehimen/you-can-find-the-independence-within-yourself-when-you-take-the-time/) [Frederica Ehimen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederica-ehimen/) > [Life's a journey, follow the right path.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amanda/life-s-a-journey-follow-the-right-path/) [Amanda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amanda/) > [The way to choose happiness is to follow what is right and real and the truth for you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oprah-winfrey/the-way-to-choose-happiness-is-to-follow-what-is-right-and-real-and/) [Oprah Winfrey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oprah-winfrey/) > [“Follow the right channels for your dreams to manifest. There is a greater sense of fulfilment in knowing you did your level best.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/follow-the-right-channels-for-your-dreams-to-manifest-there-is-a/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [“I would follow him right down the roughest road I know..”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/suzy-bogguss/i-would-follow-him-right-down-the-roughest-road-i-know/) [Suzy Bogguss](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/suzy-bogguss/) > [“It is not your responsibility to make them follow the right path; God guides whomever He pleases.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/it-is-not-your-responsibility-to-make-them-follow-the-right-path-god/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“those who move but very slowly, may advance much farther, if they always follow the right way; then those who run and straggle from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ren-descartes/those-who-move-but-very-slowly-may-advance-much-farther-if-they/) [René Descartes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ren-descartes/) > [If you do not follow the right path, you will be lost.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gautama-buddha/if-you-do-not-follow-the-right-path-you-will-be-lost/) [Gautama Buddha](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gautama-buddha/) > [It takes strong ears indeed to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure criticism without being stung by it,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-takes-strong-ears-indeed-to-hear-ourselves-judged-frankly-and/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [If you make that decision, that you'll always follow that rule, then your commitment to do it sinks into your heart, and when you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/if-you-make-that-decision-that-you-ll-always-follow-that-rule-then/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Your heart is like a magnet, Once placed on the right side the to parts go together perfectly, But once flipped to the worng…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rehn-williams/your-heart-is-like-a-magnet-once-placed-on-the-right-side-the-to/) [Rehn Williams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rehn-williams/) ## 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 Fire quotes > [Elections belong to the people. It's their decision. If they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/elections-belong-to-the-people-it-s-their-decision-if-they-decide-to/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [“I locked the door and turned on the water to fill the tub. I made it so hot that I had to get in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-crandall/i-locked-the-door-and-turned-on-the-water-to-fill-the-tub-i-made-it/) [Susan Crandall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-crandall/) > [Well, The Day the Earth Caught Fire was a story... I don't if anybody knows what it is but it was about... in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/val-guest/well-the-day-the-earth-caught-fire-was-a-story-i-don-t-if-anybody/) [Val Guest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/val-guest/) > [Public infrastructure around the world is facing unprecedented stress, with hurricanes, cyclones, floods and forest fires all increasing in frequency and intensity. It's easy…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/naomi-klein/public-infrastructure-around-the-world-is-facing-unprecedented-stress/) [Naomi Klein](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/naomi-klein/) > [Eternal Trinity... mystery deep as the sea, You could give me no greater gift than the gift of Yourself. For You are a fire…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/st-catherine-of-siena/eternal-trinity-mystery-deep-as-the-sea-you-could-give-me-no-greater/) [St. Catherine of Siena](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/st-catherine-of-siena/) > [But I think that of all the literature that I studied, the book that did more than any other to fire my enthusiasm was…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kwame-nkrumah/but-i-think-that-of-all-the-literature-that-i-studied-the-book-that/) [Kwame Nkrumah](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kwame-nkrumah/) > [“Nothing is ever lost nor can be lost; the body aged, sluggish,cold… the embers left from earlier fires shall dully flame again”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicholas-sparks/nothing-is-ever-lost-nor-can-be-lost-the-body-aged-sluggish-cold-the/) [Nicholas Sparks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicholas-sparks/) > [Tonight I feel like a prisoner on fire, waiting desperately... denied, sentenced forever more. Only your love can set me free.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-bolton/tonight-i-feel-like-a-prisoner-on-fire-waiting-desperately-denied/) [Michael Bolton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-bolton/) > [There are different kinds of fire; there is false fire. No one knows this better than we do, but we are not such fools…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-booth/there-are-different-kinds-of-fire-there-is-false-fire-no-one-knows/) [William Booth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-booth/) > [ Next came the Patent laws. These began in England in 1624; and, in this country, with the adoption of our constitution. Before then \[these?\],… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/abraham-lincoln/next-came-the-patent-laws-these-began-in-england-in-1624-and-in-this/) [Abraham Lincoln](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/abraham-lincoln/) > [War is like a fire. One man may start it, but it will spread all over. It is not about one thing in particular.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/war-is-like-a-fire-one-man-may-start-it-but-it-will-spread-all-over/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The universe contains any amount of horrible ways to be woken up, such as the noise of the mob breaking down the front door,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/terry-pratchett/the-universe-contains-any-amount-of-horrible-ways-to-be-woken-up-such/) [Terry Pratchett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/terry-pratchett/) > [“Carrying that lumber the forty meters from the forest had left his knuckles blistered, his underarms sopping, but now a few hours of flames…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-marra/carrying-that-lumber-the-forty-meters-from-the-forest-had-left-his/) [Anthony Marra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-marra/) > [May nothing entice me till I happily make my way to Jesus Christ! Fire, cross, struggles with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ignatius-of-antioch/may-nothing-entice-me-till-i-happily-make-my-way-to-jesus-christ-fire/) [Ignatius of Antioch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ignatius-of-antioch/) > [AHHHHHH! Goyle has set the bloody place on fire! -Ron Weasley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/ahhhhhh-goyle-has-set-the-bloody-place-on-fire-ron-weasley/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Browse all 8,652 Fire quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fire/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "I will follow the right side even to the fire, but excluding the fire if I can.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the-fire-but-excluding-the-fire/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Fire" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the-fire-but-excluding-the-fire/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fire_i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the_381589.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fire_i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the_381589.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a5d/michel-de-montaigne-142_fire_i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the_381589.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“I will follow the right side even to the fire, but excluding the fire if I can.” — 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": "I will follow the right side...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the-fire-but-excluding-the-fire/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-will-follow-the-right-side-even-to-the-fire-but-excluding-the-fire/#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 } } ] } ```