--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is in vain that we get upon stilts…" description: "\"It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them, it is still with our legs that we must walk. And on the highest throne in the world we are sti..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/michel-de-montaigne-142_ass_it-is-in-vain-that-we-get-upon-stilts-fo_2563890.jpg" --- # It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them… ![“It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them, it is still with our legs that we must walk. And on the highest throne in the world we are still sitting on our own ass.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/michel-de-montaigne-142_ass_it-is-in-vain-that-we-get-upon-stilts-fo_2563890.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/michel-de-montaigne-142_ass_it-is-in-vain-that-we-get-upon-stilts-fo_2563890.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/6c9/michel-de-montaigne-142_ass_it-is-in-vain-that-we-get-upon-stilts-fo_2563890.jpg) > “It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them, it is still with our legs that we must walk. And on the highest throne in the world we are still sitting on our own ass.” [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. Even lofty positions cannot free us from our basic human nature; we remain grounded in our own bodies. **In simple terms:** Power doesn’t change our human limits. Key Takeaway Remember humility despite status. Themes humility power humanity Mood reflective humorous Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - politics - career advancement - celebrity - leadership Key Concepts existentialism self‑awareness philosophy Questions to Reflect On - What does humility look like when you’re in power? - How can you stay grounded in success? A Different Perspective High status may blind us to personal flaws. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Ass](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ass/) [Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/highest/) [Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs/) [Legs Walk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/legs-walk-845443/) [Sitting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/sitting/) [Stills](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stills/) [Stilts](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stilts/) [Stilts Legs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stilts-legs-1631003/) [Throne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne/) [Thrones](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/thrones/) [Vain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vain/) [Vanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vanity/) [Walk Highest](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walk-highest-1631004/) [Walks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/walks/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [One may walk over the highest mountain one step at a time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/one-may-walk-over-the-highest-mountain-one-step-at-a-time/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I actually lost both my legs. I can walk because I got really good health care.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tammy-duckworth/i-actually-lost-both-my-legs-i-can-walk-because-i-got-really-good/) [Tammy Duckworth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tammy-duckworth/) > [“Between what i see in a field and what I see in another field There passes for a moment the figure of a man.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alberto-caeiro/between-what-i-see-in-a-field-and-what-i-see-in-another-field-there/) [Alberto Caeiro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alberto-caeiro/) > [Stretch your legs and walk straight.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nix/stretch-your-legs-and-walk-straight/) [Nix](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nix/) > [“It is an absolute perfection and virtually divine to know how to enjoy our being rightfully. We seek other conditions because we do not…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-an-absolute-perfection-and-virtually-divine-to-know-how-to/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“No matter that we may mount on stilts, we still must walk on our own legs. And on the highest throne in the world,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-matter-that-we-may-mount-on-stilts-we-still-must-walk-on-our-own/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [he sat upon his throne, which is made of skulls...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-king/he-sat-upon-his-throne-which-is-made-of-skulls/) [Stephen King](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-king/) > [Don’t run to the phone, run to the throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joyce-meyer/don-t-run-to-the-phone-run-to-the-throne/) [Joyce Meyer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joyce-meyer/) > [I think that saving a little child And bringing him to his own, Is a derned sight better business Than loafing around the throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-hay/i-think-that-saving-a-little-child-and-bringing-him-to-his-own-is-a/) [John Hay](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-hay/) > [Sweet Truth is a queen proud and mighty-- Her throne is in heaven above.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-eliot/sweet-truth-is-a-queen-proud-and-mighty-her-throne-is-in-heaven-above/) [George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-eliot/) > [He has never wanted to occupy the throne himself; he prefers the back seat - more room to spread out, you see.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/he-has-never-wanted-to-occupy-the-throne-himself-he-prefers-the-back/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [A crown, a throne could not be based on the not too very solid foundation of blood.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/a-crown-a-throne-could-not-be-based-on-the-not-too-very-solid/) [Mohammed Reza Pahlavi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mohammed-reza-pahlavi/) > [Will you not covet such power as this, and seek such throne as this, and be no more housewives, but queens? There is no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-ruskin/will-you-not-covet-such-power-as-this-and-seek-such-throne-as-this/) [John Ruskin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-ruskin/) > [But I'm alone on my throne All these riches](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nicki-minaj/but-i-m-alone-on-my-throne-all-these-riches/) [Nicki Minaj](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nicki-minaj/) > [A married woman is a slave you must know how to seat upon a throne.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/honor-de-balzac/a-married-woman-is-a-slave-you-must-know-how-to-seat-upon-a-throne/) [Honore de Balzac](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/honor-de-balzac/) ## 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 Ass quotes > [I can skate beautifully. While performing on ice I always try to please the audience and to win as well. Being artistic is very…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/evgeni-plushenko/i-can-skate-beautifully-while-performing-on-ice-i-always-try-to/) [Evgeni Plushenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/evgeni-plushenko/) > [When you go to a club it's not about being black or white or heavy or thick. I'm shaking my ass because I want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/miley-cyrus/when-you-go-to-a-club-it-s-not-about-being-black-or-white-or-heavy-or/) [Miley Cyrus](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/miley-cyrus/) > [In the movie, the stars above the ship bear no correspondence to any constellations in a real sky. Worse yet, while the heroine bobs...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neil-degrasse-tyson/in-the-movie-the-stars-above-the-ship-bear-no-correspondence-to-any/) [Neil deGrasse Tyson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neil-degrasse-tyson/) > [“There was once an old but clever donkey, who never liked the sting of any bee, Nor for all the Slung mud, did he…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/priyavrat-thareja/there-was-once-an-old-but-clever-donkey-who-never-liked-the-sting-of/) [Priyavrat Thareja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/priyavrat-thareja/) > [I named my son Noah for the same reason Chris Martin named his apple: we're asses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thom-yorke/i-named-my-son-noah-for-the-same-reason-chris-martin-named-his-apple/) [Thom Yorke](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thom-yorke/) > [Apuleius married a rich widow, then wrote \_The Golden Ass\_.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-abbey/apuleius-married-a-rich-widow-then-wrote-the-golden-ass/) [Edward Abbey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-abbey/) > [What is this world?--A term which men have got, To signify not one in ten knows what; A term, which with no more precision…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-churchill/what-is-this-world-a-term-which-men-have-got-to-signify-not-one-in/) [Charles Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-churchill/) > [I can tell you this. It is not going to be evenly constituted and when she was Speaker Pelosi, she certainly showed no interests…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/trey-gowdy/i-can-tell-you-this-it-is-not-going-to-be-evenly-constituted-and-when/) [Trey Gowdy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/trey-gowdy/) > [Whoa. He had ghouls on speed dial. My lawyer kicks so much ass.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-hearne/whoa-he-had-ghouls-on-speed-dial-my-lawyer-kicks-so-much-ass/) [Kevin Hearne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-hearne/) > [Don't fire until you see the whites of their eyes!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-h-prescott/don-t-fire-until-you-see-the-whites-of-their-eyes/) [William H. Prescott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-h-prescott/) > [“Employment is an employee’s kissing of an employer’s ass. A salary is the employer’s pretense to be cleaning his ass.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/employment-is-an-employee-s-kissing-of-an-employer-s-ass-a-salary-is/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [I just had a pedicure. My feet are soft like a baby's behind. If his ass was covered in calluses.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bob-saget/i-just-had-a-pedicure-my-feet-are-soft-like-a-baby-s-behind-if-his/) [Bob Saget](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bob-saget/) > [Now people are really inspired to do a lot, and the fire got lit under our asses to be more politically aware and be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sasheer-zamata/now-people-are-really-inspired-to-do-a-lot-and-the-fire-got-lit-under/) [Sasheer Zamata](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sasheer-zamata/) > [Friends, haters, it's Twitter poll time. What do you think most holds back justice and equality for women? All thoughts welcome!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/olivia-wilde/friends-haters-it-s-twitter-poll-time-what-do-you-think-most-holds/) [Olivia Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/olivia-wilde/) > [Held in the palms of thousands of disgruntled people over the centuries have been ideas worth millions - if they only had taken the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-m-hayes/held-in-the-palms-of-thousands-of-disgruntled-people-over-the/) [Robert M. Hayes](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-m-hayes/) [Browse all 1,551 Ass quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ass/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them, it is still with our legs that we must walk. 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