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Michel de Montaigne Quotes - Page 2

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All permanent decisions are made in a temporary state of mind.

All permanent decisions are made in a temporary state of mind.

Michel de Montaigne
Decision, Mind, States

There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.

Michel de Montaigne
Inspirational, Motivational, Success
Michel de Montaigne, William Hazlitt (1845). “The Works of Michael de Montaigne: Comprising His Essays, Letters, Journey Through Germany and Italy. With Notes from All the Commentators, Biographical and Bibliographical Notices, &c. &c”, p.92

A man must keep a little back shop where he can be himself without reserve. In solitude alone can he know true freedom.

Michel de Montaigne
Freedom, Men, Solitude

We should rather examine, who is better learned, than who is more learned.

Michel de Montaigne
Should
Michel de Montaigne (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)”, p.333, Delphi Classics

If others examined themselves attentively, as I do, they would find themselves, as I do, full of inanity and nonsense. Get rid of it I cannot without getting rid of myself.

Michel de Montaigne
Nonsense, Ifs
Michel de Montaigne (2003). “The Complete Works: Essays, Travel Journal, Letters”, Everyman's Library

Stubborn and ardent clinging to one's opinion is the best proof of stupidity.

Michel de Montaigne
Stupid, Stubborn, Opinion

Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee.

Michel de Montaigne
Live In The Moment, Past Present Future, Mindfulness
Attributed to "Essais" by Michel de Montaigne, 1595.

In nine lifetimes, you'll never know as much about your cat as your cat knows about you.

Michel de Montaigne
Cat, Nine, Lifetime

My art and profession is to live.

Michel de Montaigne
Life, Art, Profession
Michel de Montaigne (1967). “The Essays of 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 like doing him good better than having him do me good, but also would rather have him do good to himself than to me; he does me most good when he does himself good.

Michel de Montaigne
Love, Friendship, True Friend
Michel de Montaigne (1958). “Complete Essays”, p.746, Stanford University Press

The beautiful souls are they that are universal, open, and ready for all things.

Michel de Montaigne
Beauty, Beautiful, Soul
Michel de Montaigne (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)”, p.894, Delphi Classics

Wise people are foolish if they cannot adapt to foolish people.

Michel de Montaigne
Funny, Wise, Wisdom

If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love.

Michel de Montaigne
Love, Marriage, Ifs

We commend a horse for his strength, and sureness of foot, and not for his rich caparisons; a greyhound for his share of heels, not for his fine collar; a hawk for her wing, not for her jesses and bells. Why, in like manner, do we not value a man for what is properly his own? He has a great train, a beautiful palace, so much credit, so many thousand pounds a year, and all these are about him, but not in him.

Michel de Montaigne
Beautiful, Appreciation, Horse

Poverty of goods is easily cured; poverty of soul, impossible.

Michel de Montaigne
Attitude, Soul, Poverty

True freedom is to have power over oneself for everything.

Michel de Montaigne
Freedom, Power, Self

Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.

Michel de Montaigne
Confidence, Self Esteem, Love Yourself
"Essais" by Michel de Montaigne, Chapter X, 1595.

Don't discuss yourself, for you are bound to lose; if you belittle yourself, you are believed; if you praise yourself, you are disbelieved.

Michel de Montaigne
Praise, Belittle, Ifs
Attributed to "Essais" by Michel de Montaigne, Book III, Ch. 8, 1595.

Happiness involves working toward meaningful goals.

Michel de Montaigne
Happiness, Meaningful, Goal

It is not necessity but abundance which produces greed.

Michel de Montaigne
Greed, Abundance, Produce

It is good to rub and polish our brain against that of others.

Michel de Montaigne
Communication, Knowledge, Brain
Essays Bk 1 (transl. D. M. Frame)

We are all of us richer than we think we are; but we are taught to borrow and to beg, and brought up more to make use of what is another's than of our own.

Michel de Montaigne
Thinking, Use, Taught
Michel de Montaigne (1872). “All the Essays of Michael Seigneur de Montaigne”, p.826

I study myself more than any other subject. That is my metaphysics, that is my physics.

Michel de Montaigne
Study, Physics, Metaphysics

Meditation is a powerful and full study as can effectually taste and employ themselves.

Michel de Montaigne
Powerful, Meditation, Taste
Michel de Montaigne (2015). “Essays of Montaigne”, p.955, Xist Publishing

Death pays all debts.

Michel de Montaigne
Death, Atheism, Pay

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