--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The wise man lives as long as he ought…" description: "\"The wise man lives as long as he ought, not so long as he can.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/michel-de-montaigne-142_long_the-wise-man-lives-as-long-as-he-ought-n_383346.jpg" --- # The wise man lives as long as he ought, not so long as he… ![“The wise man lives as long as he ought, not so long as he can.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/michel-de-montaigne-142_long_the-wise-man-lives-as-long-as-he-ought-n_383346.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/michel-de-montaigne-142_long_the-wise-man-lives-as-long-as-he-ought-n_383346.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/09d/michel-de-montaigne-142_long_the-wise-man-lives-as-long-as-he-ought-n_383346.jpg) > “The wise man lives as long as he ought, not so long as he can.” [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. A wise person accepts the natural lifespan allotted, rather than seeking to extend life beyond its proper limits. **In simple terms:** Live within your natural lifespan. Key Takeaway Accept life's natural length. Themes wisdom moderation life acceptance Mood reflective calm Type philosophical advice When to use this quote - health decisions - aging - career planning - ethical choices Key Concepts human nature mortality philosophy Questions to Reflect On - Do you chase longevity at the expense of well‑being? - How does accepting limits affect your choices? A Different Perspective Longevity pursuits may conflict with quality of life. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Lives Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/lives-long-372652/) [Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long/) [Long Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/long-ought-3472420/) [Longevity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/longevity/) [Man Lives](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-lives/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Ought](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought/) [Ought Long](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ought-long-3472419/) [Wisdom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wisdom/) [Wise](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise/) [Wise man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wise-man/) ## Related quotes > [Anything is possible in the life of a man if he lives long enough. Even maturity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howell-raines/anything-is-possible-in-the-life-of-a-man-if-he-lives-long-enough/) [Howell Raines](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howell-raines/) > [The wise man lives as long as he should, not just as long as he likes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/seneca-the-younger/the-wise-man-lives-as-long-as-he-should-not-just-as-long-as-he-likes/) [Seneca the Younger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/seneca-the-younger/) > [“A man who lives long enough will be a boy twice.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mokokoma-mokhonoana/a-man-who-lives-long-enough-will-be-a-boy-twice/) [Mokokoma Mokhonoana](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mokokoma-mokhonoana/) > [The Great Man is a man who lives a long way off.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elbert-hubbard/the-great-man-is-a-man-who-lives-a-long-way-off/) [Elbert Hubbard](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elbert-hubbard/) > [Our lives are a long series of acquiring and then sloughing narratives.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/melissa-febos/our-lives-are-a-long-series-of-acquiring-and-then-sloughing-narratives/) [Melissa Febos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/melissa-febos/) > [Our lives will last as long as God has something for us to do.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/max-anders/our-lives-will-last-as-long-as-god-has-something-for-us-to-do/) [Max Anders](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/max-anders/) > [“One lives too long. Happy X-mas.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joseph-conrad/one-lives-too-long-happy-x-mas/) [Joseph Conrad](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joseph-conrad/) > [He lives not long who battles with the immortals, nor do his children prattle about his knees when he has come back from battle…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/homer/he-lives-not-long-who-battles-with-the-immortals-nor-do-his-children/) [Homer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/homer/) > [James Brown lives, as long as someone steps out of their body and dances uncontrollably.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-sharpton/james-brown-lives-as-long-as-someone-steps-out-of-their-body-and/) [Al Sharpton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-sharpton/) > [Hmmm! n I call a fashion next name given to a fad which lives as long as u want it 2 tc n ks](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sardar-hyder-abbas/hmmm-n-i-call-a-fashion-next-name-given-to-a-fad-which-lives-as-long/) [Sardar Hyder Abbas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sardar-hyder-abbas/) > [The poet lives as long as his lines are imprinted on the minds of his readers.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alan-bold/the-poet-lives-as-long-as-his-lines-are-imprinted-on-the-minds-of-his/) [Alan Bold](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alan-bold/) > [“And as long as she lives, as long as she thinks of me with fondness and the memory of our life together brings her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amalia-dillin/and-as-long-as-she-lives-as-long-as-she-thinks-of-me-with-fondness/) [Amalia Dillin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amalia-dillin/) > [“(D)espair never lives long in young hearts”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louisa-may-alcott/d-espair-never-lives-long-in-young-hearts/) [Louisa May Alcott](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louisa-may-alcott/) > [The truth can wait, for it lives a long life.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/arthur-schopenhauer/the-truth-can-wait-for-it-lives-a-long-life/) [Arthur Schopenhauer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/arthur-schopenhauer/) > [“Nothing lives long but the mountains and the earth. All the rest is air.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-galford/nothing-lives-long-but-the-mountains-and-the-earth-all-the-rest-is-air/) [Chris Galford](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-galford/) ## 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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