Humor Quote by Montaigne
““People try to get out of themselves and to escape from the man. This is folly; instead of transforming themselves into angels, they turn into beast; instead of lifting, they degrade themselves. These transcendental humors frighten me, like lofty and inaccessible heights.””
About This Quote
Source Essay: Essais, Book 1, Chapter 27, 1580
People avoid self‑reflection, seeking escape, which leads to moral decay rather than improvement.
In simple terms: Avoiding self‑knowledge causes decline.
Key Takeaway
Cultivate honest self‑examination.
Themes
self‑reflection
morality
human nature
Mood
introspective
serious
Type
philosophical
motivational
When to use this quote
- personal growth
- therapy
- leadership development
- conflict resolution
Key Concepts
existentialism
psychology
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How does avoiding self‑knowledge affect your choices?
- What steps can you take to confront inner flaws?
A Different Perspective
Self‑reflection can be painful and may trigger resistance.
![“[S]ometimes, when you are a food person, the possible irrelevance of what you are doing doesn’t cross your mind until it’s too late. (Once, for example, when I was just starting out in the food business, I was hired by the caper people to develop a lot of recipes using capers, and it was weeks of…” quote by Nora Ephron](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d79/nora-ephron-1217_business_s-ometimes-when-you-are-a-food-person-th_980.jpg)
