---
title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Their [the Skeptics'] way of speaking is…"
description: "\"Their [the Skeptics'] way of speaking is: \"I settle nothing. . . . I do not understand it. . . . Nothing seems true that may not seem false.\" Their sac..."
image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/michel-de-montaigne-142_judgment_their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i_1470862.jpg"
---

#  Their \[the Skeptics'\] way of speaking is: "I settle…

![“Their &#91;the Skeptics'&#93; way of speaking is: &quot;I settle nothing. . . . I do not understand it. . . . Nothing seems true that may not seem false.&quot; Their sacramental word is . . . , which is to say, I suspend my judgment.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/michel-de-montaigne-142_judgment_their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i_1470862.jpg)   [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/michel-de-montaigne-142_judgment_their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i_1470862.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/michel-de-montaigne-142_judgment_their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i_1470862.jpg)

> “Their \[the Skeptics'\] way of speaking is: "I settle nothing. . . . I do not understand it. . . . Nothing seems true that may not seem false." Their sacramental word is . . . , which is to say, I suspend my judgment.”

[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.

Skeptics claim uncertainty, suspending judgment, suggesting that nothing is definitively true or false.

**In simple terms:** Skeptics doubt certainty.

Key Takeaway

Question assumptions, seek evidence.

Themes

skepticism philosophy truth uncertainty

Mood

thoughtful critical

Type

philosophical analytical

When to use this quote

- debating a claim
- evaluating news
- making a decision

Key Concepts

relativism critical thinking epistemology

Questions to Reflect On

- What evidence would change your view?
- When is healthy doubt useful?

A Different Perspective

Over‑reliance on doubt can paralyze action.

★ ★ ★ ★ ★   No ratings yet

[Judgment](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/) [Skeptic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptic/) [Skeptics](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/skeptics/) [Understanding](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/understanding/)

## Related quotes

> [My parents always used to ask me to settle down, and I could never understand that term. However, after marriage, I have finally realised…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amruta-khanvilkar/my-parents-always-used-to-ask-me-to-settle-down-and-i-could-never/)

[Amruta Khanvilkar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amruta-khanvilkar/)

> [I determine nothing; I do not comprehend things; I suspend judgment; I examine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-determine-nothing-i-do-not-comprehend-things-i-suspend-judgment-i/)

[Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/)

> [In principle, skeptics are neither closed-minded nor cynical. We are curious but cautious.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-shermer/in-principle-skeptics-are-neither-closed-minded-nor-cynical-we-are/)

[Michael Shermer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michael-shermer/)

> [It is the spectators, the people who are outside, looking at the tragedy, from whose ranks the skeptics come; it is not those who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stewart/it-is-the-spectators-the-people-who-are-outside-looking-at-the/)

[James Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stewart/)

> [ \[Science\] has challenged the super-eminence of religion; it has turned all philosophy out of doors except that which clings to its skirts; it has… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katharine-fullerton-gerould/science-has-challenged-the-super-eminence-of-religion-it-has-turned/)

[Katharine Fullerton Gerould](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katharine-fullerton-gerould/)

> [I urge the media to start referring to climate skeptics as what they really are: climate assholes.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-maher/i-urge-the-media-to-start-referring-to-climate-skeptics-as-what-they/)

[Bill Maher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bill-maher/)

> [Skeptics squat by the road like guardians of truth, letting no one pass who doesn't come up to scratch. They never realize that they…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/deepak-chopra/skeptics-squat-by-the-road-like-guardians-of-truth-letting-no-one/)

[Deepak Chopra](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/deepak-chopra/)

> [The problem of evil is raised more often by spectators of life than the actual combatants. You will hardly ever find that the great…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-stewart/the-problem-of-evil-is-raised-more-often-by-spectators-of-life-than/)

[James Stewart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-stewart/)

> [I am the skeptic of skeptics.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/taylor-caldwell/i-am-the-skeptic-of-skeptics/)

[Taylor Caldwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/taylor-caldwell/)

> [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters. I don't mean to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a-2/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [The skeptics who say it can't be done are simply in extremely limited states of mind. They can't even perceive the possibility of anybody…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/frederick-lenz/the-skeptics-who-say-it-can-t-be-done-are-simply-in-extremely-limited/)

[Frederick Lenz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/frederick-lenz/)

> [“I'm a Skeptic. And I'm a Journalist. I look up things in the library—a lot! I believe in the motto of Missouri, the 'Show-me,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/earl-lee/i-m-a-skeptic-and-i-m-a-journalist-i-look-up-things-in-the-library-a/)

[Earl Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/earl-lee/)

> [There are skeptics who do not come to their view because they have a source of income from carbon polluters.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/al-gore/there-are-skeptics-who-do-not-come-to-their-view-because-they-have-a/)

[Al Gore](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/al-gore/)

> [“Skeptics are always marked by their total lack of skepticism towards whatever position they are defending.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steve-madison/skeptics-are-always-marked-by-their-total-lack-of-skepticism-towards/)

Steve Madison

> [Your sweet spot is in between the true believers and the scoffing skeptics…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rob-brezsny/your-sweet-spot-is-in-between-the-true-believers-and-the-scoffing/)

[Rob Brezsny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rob-brezsny/)

## 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 Judgment quotes

> [Humans are, as Sartre put it, 'condemned to be free'. To insist that science, or God, objectively defines moral values is to abandon our…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kenan-malik/humans-are-as-sartre-put-it-condemned-to-be-free-to-insist-that/)

Kenan Malik

> [Pain results from a judgment you have made about a thing. Remove the judgment and the pain disappears.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/neale-donald-walsch/pain-results-from-a-judgment-you-have-made-about-a-thing-remove-the/)

[Neale Donald Walsch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/neale-donald-walsch/)

> [“The absence of judgment becomes a catalyst and an enabler for greater injustice. Contrary to popular thought, judgment is a GOOD thing when it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-chace-gordon/the-absence-of-judgment-becomes-a-catalyst-and-an-enabler-for-greater/)

[J. Chace Gordon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-chace-gordon/)

> [It is exactly in the repetition of the exercises that the education of the senses exists; not that the child shall know colors, forms…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/maria-montessori/it-is-exactly-in-the-repetition-of-the-exercises-that-the-education/)

[Maria Montessori](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/maria-montessori/)

> [Dont judge me by my hair, my skin colour, my body size, or my outer beauty. Because if you do, you might miss who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/dont-judge-me-by-my-hair-my-skin-colour-my-body-size-or-my-outer/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [“No one has any right to tell you that the way you perceive yourself is wrong. Because by doing so, they also discourage the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kamand-kojouri/no-one-has-any-right-to-tell-you-that-the-way-you-perceive-yourself/)

[Kamand Kojouri](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kamand-kojouri/)

> [“Do not judge, so that you won't be judged. 2 For with the judgment you use, you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/do-not-judge-so-that-you-won-t-be-judged-2-for-with-the-judgment-you/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [It isn't bad judgment to make a man believe he is something. He is by nature inclined to it, and a little encouragement is…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kate-langley-bosher/it-isn-t-bad-judgment-to-make-a-man-believe-he-is-something-he-is-by/)

[Kate Langley Bosher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kate-langley-bosher/)

> [A hard heart makes for hard judgments; a compassionate heart understands the humanity of the one we presume to judge.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joan-d-chittister/a-hard-heart-makes-for-hard-judgments-a-compassionate-heart/)

[Joan D. Chittister](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joan-d-chittister/)

> [Love's mind of judgment rarely hath a taste: Wings and no eyes figure unheedy haste.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-shakespeare/love-s-mind-of-judgment-rarely-hath-a-taste-wings-and-no-eyes-figure/)

[William Shakespeare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-shakespeare/)

> [Every man will have his own criterion in forming his judgment of others. I depend very much on the effect of affliction. I consider…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cecil/every-man-will-have-his-own-criterion-in-forming-his-judgment-of/)

[Richard Cecil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cecil/)

> [More exposure leads to more judgment and negativity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camila-morrone/more-exposure-leads-to-more-judgment-and-negativity/)

[Camila Morrone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camila-morrone/)

> [Laugh at every mistakes and realize that no one is perfect. We are human. All of us are imperfect, so there's no point judging…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/laugh-at-every-mistakes-and-realize-that-no-one-is-perfect-we-are/)

[Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/)

> [Anybody who is an entrepreneur is a person who essentially has impaired judgment. The odds of success are zilch.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-peters/anybody-who-is-an-entrepreneur-is-a-person-who-essentially-has/)

[Tom Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-peters/)

> [Nobody wants to see someone's life ruined over a small-time lapse in judgment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charlie-baker/nobody-wants-to-see-someone-s-life-ruined-over-a-small-time-lapse-in/)

[Charlie Baker](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charlie-baker/)

[Browse all 3,488 Judgment quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/judgment/)

```json
{
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "@graph": [
        {
            "@type": "Quotation",
            "text": "Their [the Skeptics'] way of speaking is: \"I settle nothing. . . . I do not understand it. . . . Nothing seems true that may not seem false.\" Their sacramental word is . . . , which is to say, I suspend my judgment.",
            "creator": {
                "@type": "Person",
                "name": "Michel de Montaigne"
            },
            "isPartOf": {
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website"
            },
            "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i-settle-nothing-i-do-not/",
            "about": {
                "@type": "Thing",
                "name": "Judgment"
            },
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i-settle-nothing-i-do-not/#quotation",
            "image": {
                "@type": "ImageObject",
                "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/michel-de-montaigne-142_judgment_their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i_1470862.jpg",
                "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/michel-de-montaigne-142_judgment_their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i_1470862.jpg",
                "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/64e/michel-de-montaigne-142_judgment_their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i_1470862.jpg",
                "width": 1080,
                "height": 1080,
                "caption": "“Their [the Skeptics'] way of speaking is: \"I settle nothing. . . . I do not understand it. . . . Nothing…” — 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": "Their [the Skeptics'] way of speaking...",
                    "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i-settle-nothing-i-do-not/"
                }
            ],
            "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/their-the-skeptics-way-of-speaking-is-i-settle-nothing-i-do-not/#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
            }
        }
    ]
}
```
