--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: To compose our character is our duty, not…" description: "\"To compose our character is our duty, not to compose books, and to win, not battles and provinces, but order and tranquillity in our conduct.\" — Michel..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/michel-de-montaigne-142_battle_to-compose-our-character-is-our-duty-not_2811474.jpg" --- # To compose our character is our duty, not to compose… ![“To compose our character is our duty, not to compose books, and to win, not battles and provinces, but order and tranquillity in our conduct.” quote by Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/michel-de-montaigne-142_battle_to-compose-our-character-is-our-duty-not_2811474.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/michel-de-montaigne-142_battle_to-compose-our-character-is-our-duty-not_2811474.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/378/michel-de-montaigne-142_battle_to-compose-our-character-is-our-duty-not_2811474.jpg) > “To compose our character is our duty, not to compose books, and to win, not battles and provinces, but order and tranquillity in our conduct.” [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. Cultivating personal virtue is more important than external achievements or conquest. **In simple terms:** Focus on inner character, not external victories. Key Takeaway Prioritize inner virtue. Themes ethics self‑improvement philosophy Mood thoughtful philosophical Type ethical inspirational When to use this quote - leadership - personal development - conflict resolution Key Concepts virtue ethics inner peace Questions to Reflect On - What virtues define you? - How balance inner growth with external goals? A Different Perspective External success can motivate inner growth. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Battle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/battle/) [Behavior](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/behavior/) [Book](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/book/) [Books](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/books/) [Character](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/character/) [Duty](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/duty/) [Order](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/order/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Responsibility](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/responsibility/) [Self](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/self/) [Tranquillity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tranquillity/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Winning](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/winning/) ## Related quotes > [Character is made of duty and love and sympathy, and, above all, of living and working for others.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-green-ingersoll/character-is-made-of-duty-and-love-and-sympathy-and-above-all-of/) [Robert Green Ingersoll](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-green-ingersoll/) > [More attention and thought goes into naming a character in 'Call Of Duty' than all the work that can go into certain movies. Blood…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-gaghan/more-attention-and-thought-goes-into-naming-a-character-in-call-of/) [Stephen Gaghan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-gaghan/) > [The conduct of our lives is the true mirror of our doctrine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michel-de-montaigne/the-conduct-of-our-lives-is-the-true-mirror-of-our-doctrine/) [Michel de Montaigne](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/michel-de-montaigne/) > [Christ is already in that place of peace, which is all in all. He is on the right hand of God. He is hidden…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-henry-newman/christ-is-already-in-that-place-of-peace-which-is-all-in-all-he-is-on/) [John Henry Newman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-henry-newman/) > [The happiness and peace attained by those satisfied by the nectar of spiritual tranquillity is not attained by greedy persons restlessly moving here and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chanakya/the-happiness-and-peace-attained-by-those-satisfied-by-the-nectar-of/) [Chanakya](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chanakya/) > [There is a majestic grandeur in tranquillity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/washington-irving/there-is-a-majestic-grandeur-in-tranquillity/) [Washington Irving](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/washington-irving/) > [“Here, the world slows down, takes a pause, offering refuge to hidden and discreet creatures.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-passarelli/here-the-world-slows-down-takes-a-pause-offering-refuge-to-hidden-and/) [David Passarelli](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-passarelli/) > [“Hiking is rewarding. The tranquillity of the mountains provides a perfect setting for self-introspection.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/hiking-is-rewarding-the-tranquillity-of-the-mountains-provides-a/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [People who put my paintings on their walls are putting their values on their walls: faith, family, home, a simpler way of living, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/people-who-put-my-paintings-on-their-walls-are-putting-their-values/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Dear Superwoman, protect your tranquility and sanity. Remember that anything against authenticity is vanity.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gift-gugu-mona/dear-superwoman-protect-your-tranquility-and-sanity-remember-that/) [Gift Gugu Mona](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gift-gugu-mona/) > [Political liberty in a citizen is that tranquillity of spirit which comes from the opinion each one has of his security, and in order…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/baron-de-montesquieu/political-liberty-in-a-citizen-is-that-tranquillity-of-spirit-which/) [Baron de Montesquieu](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/baron-de-montesquieu/) > [...virtue is attended by more peace of mind than vice, and meets with a more favourable reception from the world. I am sensible, that,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-hume/virtue-is-attended-by-more-peace-of-mind-than-vice-and-meets-with-a/) [David Hume](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-hume/) > [Sensual pleasures have the fleeting brilliance of a comet; a happy marriage has the tranquillity of a lovely sunset.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ann-landers/sensual-pleasures-have-the-fleeting-brilliance-of-a-comet-a-happy/) [Ann Landers](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ann-landers/) > [When the autumn meets the tranquillity, there you can see the King of the Sceneries!](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mehmet-murat-ildan/when-the-autumn-meets-the-tranquillity-there-you-can-see-the-king-of/) [Mehmet Murat Ildan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mehmet-murat-ildan/) > [“Tranquillity is courage in repose. It is a statical manifestation of valor, as daring deeds are a dynamical. A truly brave man is ever…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/inazo-nitobe/tranquillity-is-courage-in-repose-it-is-a-statical-manifestation-of/) [Inazo Nitobe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/inazo-nitobe/) ## 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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