--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Not because Socrates said so, but because…" description: "\"Not because Socrates said so, but because it is in truth my own disposition - and perchance to some excess - I look upon all men as my compatriots, and..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/michel-de-montaigne-142_accounts_not-because-socrates-said-so-but-because_1352084.jpg" --- # Not because Socrates said so, but because it is in truth… ![“Not because Socrates said so, but because it is in truth my own disposition - and perchance to some excess - I look upon all men as my compatriots, and embrace a Pole as a Frenchman, making less account of the national than of the universal and common bond.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/michel-de-montaigne-142_accounts_not-because-socrates-said-so-but-because_1352084.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/michel-de-montaigne-142_accounts_not-because-socrates-said-so-but-because_1352084.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/31f/michel-de-montaigne-142_accounts_not-because-socrates-said-so-but-because_1352084.jpg) > “Not because Socrates said so, but because it is in truth my own disposition - and perchance to some excess - I look upon all men as my compatriots, and embrace a Pole as a Frenchman, making less account of the national than of the universal and common bond.” [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. He embraces universal humanity over national identity, seeing all as fellow citizens **In simple terms:** He values humanity over borders Key Takeaway Practice empathy beyond national lines Themes humanism universality identity Mood thoughtful inspirational Type philosophical ethical When to use this quote - International relations - community building - education - dialogue Key Concepts Cosmopolitanism philosophy Questions to Reflect On - How can you foster universal empathy in daily life? - What challenges arise when transcending national biases? A Different Perspective National ties can still shape perspectives ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Excess](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/excess/) [Frenchmen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/frenchmen/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) ## Related quotes > [Not because Socrates said so,... I look upon all men as my compatriots.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/not-because-socrates-said-so-i-look-upon-all-men-as-my-compatriots/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [“Socrates said that a man doesn’t want what he doesn’t think he lacks. That is, if you believe you have the truth then why…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-boghossian/socrates-said-that-a-man-doesn-t-want-what-he-doesn-t-think-he-lacks/) [Peter Boghossian](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-boghossian/) > [Socrates said he was not an Athenian or a Greek, but a citizen of the world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/socrates-said-he-was-not-an-athenian-or-a-greek-but-a-citizen-of-the/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [(Socrates) said there were only two possibilities. Either the soul is immortal or, after death, things would be again as blank as they were…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/socrates-said-there-were-only-two-possibilities-either-the-soul-is/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [Socrates said the unexamined life is not worth living. But the over-examined life makes you wish you were dead. Given the alternative, I'd rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saul-bellow/socrates-said-the-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-but-the-over/) [Saul Bellow](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saul-bellow/) > [“Socrates himself said, "one thing only I know, and that is that I know nothing.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/socrates-himself-said-one-thing-only-i-know-and-that-is-that-i-know/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [Socrates said the perfect society would be based on a great lie. People would be told that lie from the cradle, and they would…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-frasier/socrates-said-the-perfect-society-would-be-based-on-a-great-lie/) [Anne Frasier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-frasier/) > [Socrates said, "Those who want fewest things are nearest to the gods.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/diogenes-laertius/socrates-said-those-who-want-fewest-things-are-nearest-to-the-gods/) [Diogenes Laertius](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/diogenes-laertius/) > [Socrates said that, from above, the Earth looks like one of those twelve-patched leathern balls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/socrates-said-that-from-above-the-earth-looks-like-one-of-those/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [One quality in a person doesn't rule out any other quality. They can exist side by side, good and terrible. Socrates said it a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-harris/one-quality-in-a-person-doesn-t-rule-out-any-other-quality-they-can/) [Thomas Harris](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-harris/) > [“Socrates once said, "The unexamined life is not worth living." I would expand on his thought by suggesting, "The unexamined society is not worth…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eileen-workman/socrates-once-said-the-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living-i-would/) Eileen Workman > [Socrates said, Bad men live that they may eat and drink, whereas good men eat and drink that they may live.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plutarch/socrates-said-bad-men-live-that-they-may-eat-and-drink-whereas-good/) [Plutarch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plutarch/) > [“The young specialist in English Lit, having quoted me, went on to lecture me severely on the fact that in every century people have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-asimov/the-young-specialist-in-english-lit-having-quoted-me-went-on-to/) [Isaac Asimov](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-asimov/) > [Socrates himself said, 'One thing only I know, and this is that I know nothing.' Remember this statement, because it is an admission that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jostein-gaarder/socrates-himself-said-one-thing-only-i-know-and-this-is-that-i-know/) [Jostein Gaarder](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jostein-gaarder/) > [“Socrates said, “the unexamined life is not worth living.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arianna-huffington/socrates-said-the-unexamined-life-is-not-worth-living/) [Arianna Huffington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arianna-huffington/) ## 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 Accounts quotes > [I think most artists feel like they're outside society - no matter how many accolades they receive, or how much money is in your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aaron-rose/i-think-most-artists-feel-like-they-re-outside-society-no-matter-how/) [Aaron Rose](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aaron-rose/) > [Think of these things, whence you came, where you are going, and to whom you must account.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/benjamin-franklin/think-of-these-things-whence-you-came-where-you-are-going-and-to-whom/) [Benjamin Franklin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/benjamin-franklin/) > [Believing with you that religion is a matter which lies solely between man and his God, that he owes account to none other for…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-jefferson/believing-with-you-that-religion-is-a-matter-which-lies-solely/) [Thomas Jefferson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-jefferson/) > [There is nothing that we can properly call our own but our time, and yet everybody fools us out of it who has a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/there-is-nothing-that-we-can-properly-call-our-own-but-our-time-and/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [The Hindus have a peculiar slovenliness in business matters, not being sufficiently methodical and strict in keeping accounts etc.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/swami-vivekananda/the-hindus-have-a-peculiar-slovenliness-in-business-matters-not-being/) [Swami Vivekananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/swami-vivekananda/) > [With the Truman book, I wrote the entire account of his experiences in World War I before going over to Europe to follow his…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-mccullough/with-the-truman-book-i-wrote-the-entire-account-of-his-experiences-in/) [David McCullough](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-mccullough/) > [A great read; an exciting, frightening account of organized crime today. But like all important works of nonfiction, it goes further… This book is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/le-ly-hayslip/a-great-read-an-exciting-frightening-account-of-organized-crime-today/) [Le Ly Hayslip](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/le-ly-hayslip/) > [I had a very blessed journey with the upbringing I had. When you're working on sets as a stuntman, you have a firsthand account…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ric-roman-waugh/i-had-a-very-blessed-journey-with-the-upbringing-i-had-when-you-re/) [Ric Roman Waugh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ric-roman-waugh/) > [The suppression of uncomfortable ideas may be common in religion or in politics, but it is not the path to knowledge; it has no…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carl-sagan/the-suppression-of-uncomfortable-ideas-may-be-common-in-religion-or/) [Carl Sagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carl-sagan/) > [You've got to exercise. Your health account, your bank account, they're the same thing. The more you put in, the more you can take…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jack-lalanne/you-ve-got-to-exercise-your-health-account-your-bank-account-they-re/) [Jack LaLanne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jack-lalanne/) > [No physiologist who calmly considers the question in connection with the general truths of his science, can long resist the conviction that different parts…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/herbert-spencer/no-physiologist-who-calmly-considers-the-question-in-connection-with/) [Herbert Spencer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/herbert-spencer/) > [God puts you where God needs you. You are where you are supposed to be. The job you are doing may not be any…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-kushner/god-puts-you-where-god-needs-you-you-are-where-you-are-supposed-to-be/) [Lawrence Kushner](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-kushner/) > [Stop trying to treat music like it's a tennis shoe, something to be branded. 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