--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: On the highest throne in the world, we…" description: "\"On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-humble_on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-st_2947424.jpg" --- # On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on… ![“On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-humble_on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-st_2947424.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-humble_on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-st_2947424.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-humble_on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-st_2947424.jpg) > “On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.” [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 the highest authority remains grounded in personal, bodily reality. **In simple terms:** Even great power is still human. Key Takeaway Remember humility. Themes philosophy humility power Mood thoughtful serene Type philosophical reflective When to use this quote - leadership - politics - personal reflection Key Concepts existentialism human condition Questions to Reflect On - How does humility affect leadership? - What limits does humanity impose? A Different Perspective Power can still be misused despite humility. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Humility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humility/) [Inspiration](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inspiration/) [Kids](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kids/) [Throne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/throne/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [“Come up in the world and sit on the throne! Sit on the throne and do the world of good.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anyaele-sam-chiyson/come-up-in-the-world-and-sit-on-the-throne-sit-on-the-throne-and-do/) Anyaele Sam Chiyson > [“If you walk on stilts, you're still walking on your feet. If you sit on the highest throne in the world, you're still sitting…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/if-you-walk-on-stilts-you-re-still-walking-on-your-feet-if-you-sit-on/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Even on the most exalted throne in the world we are only sitting on our own bottom.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/even-on-the-most-exalted-throne-in-the-world-we-are-only-sitting-on/) [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/) > [We are not put into this world to sit still and know; we are put into it to act.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/woodrow-wilson/we-are-not-put-into-this-world-to-sit-still-and-know-we-are-put-into/) [Woodrow Wilson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/woodrow-wilson/) > [“There are three types of people in this world; Those who Sit, those who Stand, and those who Run. I've never doubted which I…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/angela-white/there-are-three-types-of-people-in-this-world-those-who-sit-those-who/) [Angela White](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/angela-white/) > [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 Be humble quotes > [To seek yourself in this world is to be lost; and to be humble is to be exalted.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-bunyan/to-seek-yourself-in-this-world-is-to-be-lost-and-to-be-humble-is-to/) [John Bunyan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-bunyan/) > [Well I think they broke the mould when they made me and being humble is one of my great assets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/larry-hagman/well-i-think-they-broke-the-mould-when-they-made-me-and-being-humble/) [Larry Hagman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/larry-hagman/) > [Remember this-all the sighing, mourning, sobbing, and complaining in the world, does not so undeniably evidence a man to be humble, as his overlooking…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-brooks/remember-this-all-the-sighing-mourning-sobbing-and-complaining-in-the/) [Thomas Brooks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-brooks/) > [ Be humble and say okay, all right, I have to prep myself. So everybody prepped, and we finished the film \[Valerian \] four days… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/luc-besson/be-humble-and-say-okay-all-right-i-have-to-prep-myself-so-everybody/) [Luc Besson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/luc-besson/) > [Catch {a man} at the moment when he is really poor in spirit and smuggle into his mind the gratifying reflection, "By jove, I'm…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-s-lewis/catch-a-man-at-the-moment-when-he-is-really-poor-in-spirit-and/) [C. S. Lewis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-s-lewis/) > [Humility does not mean weakness. It does not mean timidity. It does not mean fear. A man can be humble and fearless. A man…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ezra-taft-benson/humility-does-not-mean-weakness-it-does-not-mean-timidity-it-does-not/) [Ezra Taft Benson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ezra-taft-benson/) > [Always enter like a kitten and leave like a lion. But NEVER enter like a lion and leave like a kitten. Always be humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/carlson-gracie/always-enter-like-a-kitten-and-leave-like-a-lion-but-never-enter-like/) [Carlson Gracie](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/carlson-gracie/) > [There is no substitute for hardwork. Always be humble and hungry.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwayne-johnson/there-is-no-substitute-for-hardwork-always-be-humble-and-hungry/) [Dwayne Johnson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwayne-johnson/) > [You've got to be humble really to be yourself or to get a chance to be yourself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-harrison/you-ve-got-to-be-humble-really-to-be-yourself-or-to-get-a-chance-to/) [George Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-harrison/) > [Learning something means coming into contact with a world of which you know nothing. In order to learn, you must be humble.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paulo-coelho/learning-something-means-coming-into-contact-with-a-world-of-which/) [Paulo Coelho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paulo-coelho/) > [Create your own job. Become the master of what you do. Fully imerse yourself in your culter. Be humble. You are never above having…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sophia-amoruso/create-your-own-job-become-the-master-of-what-you-do-fully-imerse/) [Sophia Amoruso](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sophia-amoruso/) > [It's very easy for us to be humble when no one else is around. There is no reason for us to demonstrate our superiority,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/it-s-very-easy-for-us-to-be-humble-when-no-one-else-is-around-there/) [Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/) > [I'm totally normal. I think it's obnoxious when people demand limos or bodyguards. I eat at McDonald's or Taco Bell. My parents always taught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paris-hilton/i-m-totally-normal-i-think-it-s-obnoxious-when-people-demand-limos-or/) [Paris Hilton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paris-hilton/) > [You have to know when to be arrogant. You have to when to be humble. You have to know when to be hard and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/talib-kweli/you-have-to-know-when-to-be-arrogant-you-have-to-when-to-be-humble/) [Talib Kweli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/talib-kweli/) > [I know that a Christian should be humble, but against the Pope I am going to be proud and say to him: "You, Pope,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/martin-luther/i-know-that-a-christian-should-be-humble-but-against-the-pope-i-am/) [Martin Luther](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/martin-luther/) Browse all 243 Be humble quotes ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Michel de Montaigne" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-still-sit-only-on-our-own-bottom/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Be humble" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-still-sit-only-on-our-own-bottom/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-humble_on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-st_2947424.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-humble_on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-st_2947424.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/fd6/michel-de-montaigne-142_be-humble_on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-st_2947424.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“On the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.” — 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": "On the highest throne in the...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-still-sit-only-on-our-own-bottom/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/on-the-highest-throne-in-the-world-we-still-sit-only-on-our-own-bottom/#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 } } ] } ```