---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It is probable that the principal credit…"
description: "\"It is probable that the principal credit of miracles, visions, enchantments, and such extraordinary occurrences comes from the power of imagination, ac..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michel-de-montaigne-142_acting_it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit_585867.jpg"
---

#  It is probable that the principal credit of miracles…

![“It is probable that the principal credit of miracles, visions, enchantments, and such extraordinary occurrences comes from the power of imagination, acting principally upon the minds of the common people, which are softer.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michel-de-montaigne-142_acting_it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit_585867.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michel-de-montaigne-142_acting_it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit_585867.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michel-de-montaigne-142_acting_it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit_585867.jpg)

> “It is probable that the principal credit of miracles, visions, enchantments, and such extraordinary occurrences comes from the power of imagination, acting principally upon the minds of the common people, which are softer.”

[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.

Imagination fuels extraordinary beliefs, especially among the impressionable, showing how mental narratives shape perceived miracles.

**In simple terms:** Imagination makes people believe in wonders.

Key Takeaway

Question narratives critically.

Themes

belief imagination psychology

Mood

skeptical thoughtful

Type

philosophical inspirational

When to use this quote

- Storytelling
- education
- media influence

Key Concepts

Cognitive bias mass perception

Questions to Reflect On

- How does imagination affect our perception of truth?
- What safeguards protect against deceptive narratives?

A Different Perspective

Overreliance on imagination can blur reality and truth.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Acting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/) [Common people](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/common-people/) [Credit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/credit/) [Dreams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dreams/) [Enchantment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/enchantment/) [Imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imagination/) [Mind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mind/) [Miracle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracle/) [Miracles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/miracles/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Power of imagination](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/power-of-imagination/) [Vision](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/vision/)

## Related quotes

> [“The power of imagination is strongest in the place of solitude.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sunday-adelaja/the-power-of-imagination-is-strongest-in-the-place-of-solitude/)

[Sunday Adelaja](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sunday-adelaja/)

> [“The power of imagination is a miracle.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lailah-gifty-akita/the-power-of-imagination-is-a-miracle/)

[Lailah Gifty Akita](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lailah-gifty-akita/)

> [The power of miracle is the power of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-feuerbach/the-power-of-miracle-is-the-power-of-imagination/)

[Ludwig Feuerbach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-feuerbach/)

> [The power of imagination is infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-power-of-imagination-is-infinite/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The only trouble with this world today lies in our lack of understanding of the power of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-hill/the-only-trouble-with-this-world-today-lies-in-our-lack-of/)

[Napoleon Hill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-hill/)

> [You can practice dance, climbing a mountain and action stunts, but to get your timing right you have to have the power of imagination…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajpal-yadav/you-can-practice-dance-climbing-a-mountain-and-action-stunts-but-to/)

[Rajpal Yadav](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajpal-yadav/)

> [The power of imagination is the ability to create your own future, and the power to create your own...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-power-of-imagination-is-the-ability-to-create-your-own-future-and/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [The power of imagination makes us infinite.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-muir/the-power-of-imagination-makes-us-infinite/)

[John Muir](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-muir/)

> [The future is not there waiting for us. We create it by the power of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vilayat-inayat-khan/the-future-is-not-there-waiting-for-us-we-create-it-by-the-power-of/)

[Vilayat Inayat Khan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vilayat-inayat-khan/)

> [Such is the power of imagination, that even a chimerical pleasure in expectation affects us more than a solid pleasure in possession.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-home-lord-kames/such-is-the-power-of-imagination-that-even-a-chimerical-pleasure-in/)

[Henry Home, Lord Kames](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-home-lord-kames/)

> [“You must know where you're and see what's ahead of you, by doing that you'll be able to achieve your dreams and goals. This…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/euginia-herlihy/you-must-know-where-you-re-and-see-what-s-ahead-of-you-by-doing-that/)

[Euginia Herlihy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/euginia-herlihy/)

> [It is the power of memory that gives rise to the power of imagination.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/akira-kurosawa/it-is-the-power-of-memory-that-gives-rise-to-the-power-of-imagination/)

[Akira Kurosawa](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/akira-kurosawa/)

> [“At times I felt that the universe fabricated from the power of imagination had stronger and more lasting contours than the blurred realm of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isabel-allende/at-times-i-felt-that-the-universe-fabricated-from-the-power-of/)

[Isabel Allende](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isabel-allende/)

> [“Knowledge is borrowed. Imagination is original. It is the power of imagination that makes us different from our animal ancestors.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/banani-ray/knowledge-is-borrowed-imagination-is-original-it-is-the-power-of/)

[Banani Ray](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/banani-ray/)

> [The power of imagination is incredible. Often we see athletes achieving unbelievable results and wonder how they did it. One of the tools they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-kohlrieser/the-power-of-imagination-is-incredible-often-we-see-athletes/)

[George Kohlrieser](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-kohlrieser/)

## 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 Acting quotes

> [I actually think acting is a form of self-hypnosis. You have to be hyper, hyper aware of what's going on around you. You have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/julianne-moore/i-actually-think-acting-is-a-form-of-self-hypnosis-you-have-to-be/)

[Julianne Moore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/julianne-moore/)

> [Many Republicans have always reminded me of professional WWF wrestlers. They come into the ring all pumped up and acting like they're invincible and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-feig/many-republicans-have-always-reminded-me-of-professional-wwf/)

[Paul Feig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-feig/)

> [I'm a big fan of all the Boston guys that are acting - Matt Damon , Ben Affleck, Mark Wahlberg - they made a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenny-wormald/i-m-a-big-fan-of-all-the-boston-guys-that-are-acting-matt-damon-ben/)

[Kenny Wormald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kenny-wormald/)

> [Acting is a grind, just like music is a grind. Sometimes it takes longer than what you can give.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/big-sean/acting-is-a-grind-just-like-music-is-a-grind-sometimes-it-takes/)

[Big Sean](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/big-sean/)

> [It was only when I started making short films in college and I was looking for girls to play the me-ish parts that I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lena-dunham/it-was-only-when-i-started-making-short-films-in-college-and-i-was/)

[Lena Dunham](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lena-dunham/)

> [Writing is something I took up rather than anything I had an inclination toward. I like acting -delivering someone else's message - but writing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-martin/writing-is-something-i-took-up-rather-than-anything-i-had-an/)

[Steve Martin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steve-martin/)

> [I can still function when I don't have that balance I crave. I had a tendency to be precious about acting, thinking of it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/laura-regan/i-can-still-function-when-i-don-t-have-that-balance-i-crave-i-had-a/)

[Laura Regan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/laura-regan/)

> [Actors don't hate acting. Most people don't hate acting! Whether you're a child mucking around with your friends or a grown up being paid…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/liv-hewson/actors-don-t-hate-acting-most-people-don-t-hate-acting-whether-you-re/)

[Liv Hewson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/liv-hewson/)

> [It was only when I went to acting school that I was like, "You are absolutely such a pigheaded freak show that you thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giles-matthey/it-was-only-when-i-went-to-acting-school-that-i-was-like-you-are/)

[Giles Matthey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giles-matthey/)

> [Once I committed to acting, this has been it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernie-hudson/once-i-committed-to-acting-this-has-been-it/)

[Ernie Hudson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernie-hudson/)

> [It definitely helps to have the acting experience going into singing, because when you're singing, you have to portray the emotion you were feeling…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-newman/it-definitely-helps-to-have-the-acting-experience-going-into-singing/)

Ryan Newman

> [The show was number one in the ratings, Gordon Russell was our head writer, the story lines were magnificent and the acting most exciting.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-storm/the-show-was-number-one-in-the-ratings-gordon-russell-was-our-head/)

[Michael Storm](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-storm/)

> [I've done so many other projects where you're in a room with a reader and you're acting your lines out: 'We have to get…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-cummings/i-ve-done-so-many-other-projects-where-you-re-in-a-room-with-a-reader/)

[Jim Cummings](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-cummings/)

> [I do not believe in public shaming. I do believe that young adults go to college to learn things, and that this process will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gene-weingarten/i-do-not-believe-in-public-shaming-i-do-believe-that-young-adults-go/)

[Gene Weingarten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gene-weingarten/)

> [Poetry has, in a way, been my bridge to my acting career.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/omari-hardwick/poetry-has-in-a-way-been-my-bridge-to-my-acting-career/)

[Omari Hardwick](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/omari-hardwick/)

[Browse all 12,062 Acting quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/acting/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "It is probable that the principal credit of miracles, visions, enchantments, and such extraordinary occurrences comes from the power of imagination, acting principally upon the minds of the common people, which are softer.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michel de Montaigne"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit-of-miracles-visions/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Acting"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit-of-miracles-visions/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michel-de-montaigne-142_acting_it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit_585867.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michel-de-montaigne-142_acting_it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit_585867.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/805/michel-de-montaigne-142_acting_it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit_585867.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“It is probable that the principal credit of miracles, visions, enchantments, and such extraordinary…” — 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": "It is probable that the principal...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit-of-miracles-visions/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/it-is-probable-that-the-principal-credit-of-miracles-visions/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
