--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: There is no doubt that Greek and Latin…" description: "\"There is no doubt that Greek and Latin are great and handsome ornaments, but we buy them too dear.\" — Michel de Montaigne" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/michel-de-montaigne-142_borrowing_there-is-no-doubt-that-greek-and-latin-a_1914000.jpg" --- # There is no doubt that Greek and Latin are great and… ![“There is no doubt that Greek and Latin are great and handsome ornaments, but we buy them too dear.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/michel-de-montaigne-142_borrowing_there-is-no-doubt-that-greek-and-latin-a_1914000.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/michel-de-montaigne-142_borrowing_there-is-no-doubt-that-greek-and-latin-a_1914000.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/bd7/michel-de-montaigne-142_borrowing_there-is-no-doubt-that-greek-and-latin-a_1914000.jpg) > “There is no doubt that Greek and Latin are great and handsome ornaments, but we buy them too dear.” [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. Classical languages are beautiful but often overvalued, leading to excessive cost. **In simple terms:** Greek and Latin are costly ornaments. Key Takeaway Value language wisely. Themes education culture valuation Mood reflective critical Type philosophical analytical When to use this quote - academic study - literary appreciation - budget decisions Key Concepts humanities linguistic heritage Questions to Reflect On - Is the cost justified? - What alternatives exist? A Different Perspective May undervalue practical skills. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Borrowing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/borrowing/) [Dear](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/dear/) [Doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doubt/) [Greek](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greek/) [Greek Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/greek-latin-2900330/) [Handsome](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handsome/) [Handsome Ornaments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/handsome-ornaments-2900327/) [Language](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/language/) [Latin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin/) [Latin Great](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/latin-great-2900329/) [No doubt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/no-doubt/) [Ornaments](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ornaments/) [Ornaments Buy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ornaments-buy-2900328/) [Tradition](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tradition/) ## Related quotes > [ I am not of the opinion generally entertained in this country \[England\], that man lives by Greek and Latin alone; that is, by knowing… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lord-chesterfield/i-am-not-of-the-opinion-generally-entertained-in-this-country-england/) [Lord Chesterfield](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lord-chesterfield/) > [As by some might be saide of me: that here I have but gathered a nosegay of strange floures, and have put nothing of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/as-by-some-might-be-saide-of-me-that-here-i-have-but-gathered-a/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I never rebel so much against France as not to regard Paris with a friendly eye; she has had my heart since my childhood...…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/i-never-rebel-so-much-against-france-as-not-to-regard-paris-with-a/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [I care not so much what I am to others as what I am to myself. 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"Wolves aren't fragile," I told him. "And they're... stubbon…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/patricia-briggs/christmas-garland-and-a-rock-he-said-a-smile-in-his-voice-why-not-an/) [Patricia Briggs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/patricia-briggs/) > [Money can help you to get medicines but not health. Money can help you to get soft pillows, but not sound sleep. Money can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sivananda/money-can-help-you-to-get-medicines-but-not-health-money-can-help-you/) [Sivananda](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sivananda/) > [I repeat, sir, that in whatever position you place a woman she is an ornament to society and a treasure to the world. As…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/i-repeat-sir-that-in-whatever-position-you-place-a-woman-she-is-an/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [No ornament of a house can compare with books; they are constant company in a room, even when you are not reading them.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/harriet-beecher-stowe/no-ornament-of-a-house-can-compare-with-books-they-are-constant/) [Harriet Beecher Stowe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/harriet-beecher-stowe/) > [The modern majesty consists in work. What a man can do is his greatest ornament, and he always consults his dignity by doing it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/thomas-carlyle/the-modern-majesty-consists-in-work-what-a-man-can-do-is-his-greatest/) [Thomas Carlyle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/thomas-carlyle/) > [Mannerism is not character, and affectation is the avowed enemy of grace. Every dancer ought to regard his laborious art as a link in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/august-bournonville/mannerism-is-not-character-and-affectation-is-the-avowed-enemy-of/) [August Bournonville](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/august-bournonville/) > [So may the outward shows be least themselves; The world is still deceived with ornament.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/so-may-the-outward-shows-be-least-themselves-the-world-is-still/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The connoisseur of art must be able to appreciate what is simply beautiful, but the common run of people is satisfied with ornament](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/the-connoisseur-of-art-must-be-able-to-appreciate-what-is-simply/) [Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/johann-wolfgang-von-goethe/) ## 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 Borrowing quotes > [I would borrow money all day long, if the cost of borrowing is less than the expected return.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-schneider/i-would-borrow-money-all-day-long-if-the-cost-of-borrowing-is-less/) [Brad Schneider](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-schneider/) > [ When the fountains of government \[borrowing\] abundance began to dry up, when through lack of funds and the impossibility of negotiating fresh loans the… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-t-flynn/when-the-fountains-of-government-borrowing-abundance-began-to-dry-up/) [John T. 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Likewise, many Bollywood actors are appearing down South or borrowing ideas from southern films.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ram-charan/several-southern-actors-are-coming-to-mumbai-likewise-many-bollywood/) [Ram Charan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ram-charan/) > [As for borrowing Mr. Whistler's ideas about art, the only thoroughly original ideas I have heard him express have had reference to his own…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-wilde/as-for-borrowing-mr-whistler-s-ideas-about-art-the-only-thoroughly/) [Oscar Wilde](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-wilde/) > [Saints and ordinary folks are the same from the start. Inquiring about a difference is like asking to borrow string when you've got a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hsu-yun/saints-and-ordinary-folks-are-the-same-from-the-start-inquiring-about/) [Hsu Yun](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hsu-yun/) > [Borrowing money on what's called 'easy terms,' is a one-way ticket to the Poor House. 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