--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: No one is exempt from talking nonsense…" description: "\"“No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the misfortune is to do it solemnly”\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/michel-de-montaigne-142_talking-nonsense_no-one-is-exempt-from-talking-nonsense-t_1673932.jpg" --- # No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the misfortune is… ![“No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the misfortune is to do it solemnly” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/michel-de-montaigne-142_talking-nonsense_no-one-is-exempt-from-talking-nonsense-t_1673932.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/michel-de-montaigne-142_talking-nonsense_no-one-is-exempt-from-talking-nonsense-t_1673932.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/529/michel-de-montaigne-142_talking-nonsense_no-one-is-exempt-from-talking-nonsense-t_1673932.jpg) > ““No one is exempt from talking nonsense; the misfortune is to do it solemnly”” [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. Speaking nonsense is inevitable; the real error is treating it seriously. **In simple terms:** Talk nonsense, but don’t be solemn about it. Key Takeaway Avoid seriousness when speaking frivolously. Themes humor humility communication Mood lighthearted reflective Type advice philosophical When to use this quote - daily conversation - public speaking - online comments Key Concepts self‑awareness social etiquette Questions to Reflect On - How do you recognize when you’re being too serious? - What impact does solemn nonsense have? A Different Perspective If you’re earnest, nonsense can mislead others. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Exempt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exempt/) [Exempt Talking](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/exempt-talking-889331/) [Misfortune Solemnly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/misfortune-solemnly-889330/) [Nonsense Misfortune](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/nonsense-misfortune-889332/) [Solemnly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solemnly-513351/) [Talking nonsense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/talking-nonsense/) ## Related quotes > [No-one is exempt from speaking nonsense – the only misfortune is to do it solemnly.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-one-is-exempt-from-speaking-nonsense-the-only-misfortune-is-to-do/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“No one is exempt from speaking nonsense. The great misfortune is to do it solemnly.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/no-one-is-exempt-from-speaking-nonsense-the-great-misfortune-is-to-do/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Nobody is exempt from saying stupid things, the harm is to do it presumptuously.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/nobody-is-exempt-from-saying-stupid-things-the-harm-is-to-do-it/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“I know this sounds ridiculous," he spoke solemnly, lacing his fingers in my hair. "But sometimes I feel like I'm caught in your gravity.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dan-skinner/i-know-this-sounds-ridiculous-he-spoke-solemnly-lacing-his-fingers-in/) [Dan Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dan-skinner/) > [“He spoke solemnly. “This is our last hunt, old wolf. And as we always have, we go to it together.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-hobb/he-spoke-solemnly-this-is-our-last-hunt-old-wolf-and-as-we-always/) [Robin Hobb](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-hobb/) > [“Scott took LITERATURE so solemnly. He never understood that it was just writing as well as you can and finishing what you start.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ernest-hemingway/scott-took-literature-so-solemnly-he-never-understood-that-it-was/) [Ernest Hemingway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ernest-hemingway/) > [“I hereby solemnly and sincerely declare before God that I will faithfully discharge the duties of a member of An Garda Síochána with fairness,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-masterton/i-hereby-solemnly-and-sincerely-declare-before-god-that-i-will/) [Graham Masterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-masterton/) > [“I am patriotic. When the Pledge of Allegiance is going on, I solemnly place my right hand over my genitals.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/i-am-patriotic-when-the-pledge-of-allegiance-is-going-on-i-solemnly/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [We were constantly hearing it repeated, that we must never again look upon ourselves as our own; but must remember, that we were solemnly…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-monk/we-were-constantly-hearing-it-repeated-that-we-must-never-again-look/) [Maria Monk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-monk/) > [I would like to solemnly reaffirm, that poverty is not a fatality.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mathieu-kerekou/i-would-like-to-solemnly-reaffirm-that-poverty-is-not-a-fatality/) [Mathieu Kerekou](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mathieu-kerekou/) > [I solemnly swear that I will bear true and faithful allegiance to the Queen when she pays her income tax](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dennis-skinner/i-solemnly-swear-that-i-will-bear-true-and-faithful-allegiance-to-the/) [Dennis Skinner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dennis-skinner/) > [“I solemnly swear that I am up to no good... or Malfoy is anyway.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-k-rowling/i-solemnly-swear-that-i-am-up-to-no-good-or-malfoy-is-anyway/) [J.K. Rowling](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-k-rowling/) > [“I, Alex Cross do solemnly promise-to all those present at this birthday party- to do my best to balance my life at home with…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-patterson/i-alex-cross-do-solemnly-promise-to-all-those-present-at-this/) [James Patterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-patterson/) > [Raise your hands in the air, pump your fists, and solemnly swear to rock the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kool-moe-dee/raise-your-hands-in-the-air-pump-your-fists-and-solemnly-swear-to/) [Kool Moe Dee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kool-moe-dee/) > [“Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori,” he said solemnly. It is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/francine-mathews/dulce-et-decorum-est-pro-patria-mori-he-said-solemnly-it-is-sweet-and/) [Francine Mathews](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/francine-mathews/) ## 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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