--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: My errors are by now natural and…" description: "\"My errors are by now natural and incorrigible; but the good that worthy men do the public by making themselves imitable, I shall perhaps do by making m..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/michel-de-montaigne-142_errors_my-errors-are-by-now-natural-and-incorri_1173473.jpg" --- # My errors are by now natural and incorrigible; but the… ![“My errors are by now natural and incorrigible; but the good that worthy men do the public by making themselves imitable, I shall perhaps do by making myself evitable.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/michel-de-montaigne-142_errors_my-errors-are-by-now-natural-and-incorri_1173473.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/michel-de-montaigne-142_errors_my-errors-are-by-now-natural-and-incorri_1173473.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/b4a/michel-de-montaigne-142_errors_my-errors-are-by-now-natural-and-incorri_1173473.jpg) > “My errors are by now natural and incorrigible; but the good that worthy men do the public by making themselves imitable, I shall perhaps do by making myself evitable.” [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. Good deeds become public models; by imitating them, others can follow, but one must also avoid becoming a negative example. **In simple terms:** Imitate good, avoid being bad. Key Takeaway Model virtue for others. Themes virtue imitation public example ethics Mood thoughtful analytical Type philosophical educational When to use this quote - leadership - teaching - public speaking - policy making - community service Key Concepts Moral philosophy role modeling Questions to Reflect On - How can you ensure your actions inspire positively? - What prevents good deeds from being misinterpreted? A Different Perspective Public scrutiny can distort intentions. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Errors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors/) [Errors Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/errors-natural-3411021/) [Evitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evitable-3411020/) [Imitation](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/imitation/) [Incorrigible](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/incorrigible/) [Making Evitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-evitable-3411018/) [Making Imitable](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/making-imitable-3411019/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Natural](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/natural/) [Worthy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy/) [Worthy Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/worthy-men-2201087/) ## Related quotes > [“There was something demoniacal and insuperable about typographical errors, as if they were part of the natural evil that permeated man's existence, as if…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-highsmith/there-was-something-demoniacal-and-insuperable-about-typographical/) [Patricia Highsmith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-highsmith/) > [How many worthy men have we known to survive their own reputation, who have seen and suffered the honor and glory most justly acquired…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/how-many-worthy-men-have-we-known-to-survive-their-own-reputation-who/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [War is evitable if conditions are such that the costs of making war are higher than the benefits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frans-de-waal/war-is-evitable-if-conditions-are-such-that-the-costs-of-making-war/) [Frans de Waal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frans-de-waal/) > [Pain is evitable. Suffering is optional.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/pain-is-evitable-suffering-is-optional/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The images of man which I create are not idealized. They embody ideals and characteristics which are worthy for all men: human dignity, peace,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arno-breker/the-images-of-man-which-i-create-are-not-idealized-they-embody-ideals/) [Arno Breker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arno-breker/) > [Only the consciousness of a purpose that is mightier than any man and worthy of all men can fortify and inspirit and compose the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/only-the-consciousness-of-a-purpose-that-is-mightier-than-any-man-and/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [And Marlowe, Webster, Fletcher, Ben, Whose fire-hearts sowed our furrows when The world was worthy of such men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-barrett-browning/and-marlowe-webster-fletcher-ben-whose-fire-hearts-sowed-our-furrows/) [Elizabeth Barrett Browning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-barrett-browning/) > [“He assembled at his house the most worthy men, and the most beautiful ladies of Babylon. He gave them delicious suppers, often preceded by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/voltaire/he-assembled-at-his-house-the-most-worthy-men-and-the-most-beautiful/) [Voltaire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/voltaire/) > [How many worthy men have we seen survive their own reputation!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/how-many-worthy-men-have-we-seen-survive-their-own-reputation/) [Michel De Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Amid life's quests, there seems but worthy one: to do men good.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gamaliel-bailey/amid-life-s-quests-there-seems-but-worthy-one-to-do-men-good/) [Gamaliel Bailey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gamaliel-bailey/) > [Science has made us gods even before we are worthy of being men.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-rostand/science-has-made-us-gods-even-before-we-are-worthy-of-being-men/) [Jean Rostand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-rostand/) > [It's interesting to observe that almost all truly worthy men have simple manners, and that simple manners are almost always taken as a sign…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/giacomo-leopardi/it-s-interesting-to-observe-that-almost-all-truly-worthy-men-have/) [Giacomo Leopardi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/giacomo-leopardi/) > [A good man, though he will value his own countrymen, yet will think as highly of the worthy men of every nation under the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-richardson/a-good-man-though-he-will-value-his-own-countrymen-yet-will-think-as/) [Samuel Richardson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-richardson/) > [“When Life was Full In the age when life on earth was full, no one paid any special attention to worthy men, nor did…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-merton/when-life-was-full-in-the-age-when-life-on-earth-was-full-no-one-paid/) [Thomas Merton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-merton/) > [As objects of contemplation, images of the atrocious can answer to several different needs. To steel oneself against weakness. To make oneself more numb.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/susan-sontag/as-objects-of-contemplation-images-of-the-atrocious-can-answer-to/) [Susan Sontag](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/susan-sontag/) ## 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. 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A photographer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edouard-boubat/sometimes-i-envy-painters-it-is-wonderful-to-remain-in-front-of-a/) [Edouard Boubat](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edouard-boubat/) > [It is an error common to many artists, who strive merely to avoid mistakes, when all our efforts should be to create positive and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/edward-steichen/it-is-an-error-common-to-many-artists-who-strive-merely-to-avoid/) [Edward Steichen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/edward-steichen/) > [Truth is error burned up.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/norman-o-brown/truth-is-error-burned-up/) [Norman O. Brown](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/norman-o-brown/) > [But a most pernicious error widely prevails that Scripture has only so much weight as is conceded to it by the consent of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-calvin/but-a-most-pernicious-error-widely-prevails-that-scripture-has-only/) [John Calvin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-calvin/) > [An important finding is that by determining the genome sequences of an entire family, one can identify many DNA sequencing errors and thus greatly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leroy-hood/an-important-finding-is-that-by-determining-the-genome-sequences-of/) [Leroy Hood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leroy-hood/) > [It is often sadly remarked that the bad economists present their errors to the public better than the good economists present their truths. 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