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Michel de Montaigne Quotes - Page 21

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Even opinion is of force enough to make itself to be espoused at the expense of life.

Even opinion is of force enough to make itself to be espoused at the expense of life.

Michel de Montaigne
Opinion, Enough, Force
Michel de Montaigne, Bayle St. John (1866). “Essays [tr. by Cotton”, p.358

All other knowledge is hurtful to him who has not honesty and good-nature

Michel de Montaigne
Honesty, Hurtful, Good Nature
Michel de Montaigne (1800). “Essays, Selected from Montaigne: With a Sketch of the Life of the Author”, p.124

He who remembers the evils he has undergone, and those that have threatened him, and the slight causes that have changed him from one state to another, prepares himself in that way for future changes and for recognizing his condition. The life of Caesar has no more to show us than our own; an emperor's or an ordinary man's, it is still a life subject to all human accidents.

Michel de Montaigne
Men, Evil, Ordinary
Michel de Montaigne (1980). “Essays”

Since I would rather make of him an able man than a learned man, I would also urge that care be taken to choose a guide with a well-made rather than a well-filled head.

Michel de Montaigne
Taken, Learning, Men
Michel de Montaigne (1958). “Complete Essays”, p.110, Stanford University Press

My trade and my art is living. He who forbids me to speak about it according to my sense, experience, and practice, let him orderthe architect to speak of buildings not according to himself but according to his neighbor; according to another man's knowledge, not according to his own.

Michel de Montaigne
Life, Art, Knowledge
Michel de Montaigne (1979). “Essays”

The wise man should withdraw his soul within, out of the crowd, and keep it in freedom and power to judge things freely; but as for externals, he should wholly follow the accepted fashions and forms.

Michel de Montaigne
Wise, Wisdom, Fashion
Michel de Montaigne (1958). “Complete Essays”, p.86, Stanford University Press

I am disgusted with innovation, in whatever guise, and with reason, for I have seen very harmful effects of it.

Michel de Montaigne
Innovation, Reason, Danger
Michel de Montaigne (1958). “Complete Essays”, p.86, Stanford University Press

I want to be seen here in my simple, natural, ordinary fashion, without straining or artifice; for it is myself that I portray... I am myself the matter of my book.

Michel de Montaigne
Fashion, Book, Simple
Michel de Montaigne (1958). “Complete Essays”, p.2, Stanford University Press

It takes so much to be a king that he exists only as such. That extraneous glare that surrounds him hides him and conceals him from us; our sight breaks and is dissipated by it being filled and arrested by this strong light.

Michel de Montaigne
Strong, Kings, Light

The same reason that makes us chide and brawl and fall out with any of our neighbors, causeth a war to follow between Princes.

Michel de Montaigne
War, Fall, Reason
Michel de Montaigne (1964). “Selected essays of Montaigne: in the translation of John Florio”

Whatever I may be, I want to be elsewhere than on paper. My art and my industry have been employed in making myself good for something; my studies, in teaching me to do, not to write. I have put all my efforts into forming my life. That is my trade and my work.

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

There is no so wretched and coarse a soul wherein some particular faculty is not seen to shine.

Michel de Montaigne
Shining, Soul, Genius
Michel de Montaigne (2013). “Michel de Montaigne: Selected Essays”, p.132, Courier Corporation

Once you have decided to keep a certain pile, it is no longer yours; for you can't spend it.

Michel de Montaigne
Certain, Property, Decided
Michel de Montaigne, Marvin Lowenthal (1999). “The Autobiography of Michel de Montaigne: Comprising the Life of the Wisest Man of His Times : His Childhood, Youth, and Prime : His Adventures in Love and Marriage, at Court, and in Office, War, Revolution, and Plague : His Travels at Home and Abroad : His Habits, Tastes, Whims, and Opinions”, p.101, David R. Godine Publisher

The worthiest man to be known, and for a pattern to be presented to the world, he is the man of whom we have most certain knowledge. He hath been declared and enlightened by the most clear-seeing men that ever were; the testimonies we have of him are in faithfulness and sufficiency most admirable.

Michel de Montaigne
Men, Society, World

Women when they marry buy a cat in the bag.

Michel de Montaigne
Cat, Bags, Matrimony
"Essays", Book III, Chapter V, as quoted in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia Of Practical Quotations, p. 495-500, 1922.

Arts and sciences are not cast in a mould, but are found and perfected by degrees, by often handling and polishing.

Michel de Montaigne
Art, Degrees, Found
Michel de Montaigne (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)”, p.796, Delphi Classics

The whole idea we have for their chastity is ridiculous. They would have to become numb and invisible to please us. I don't know whether the exploits of Alexander and Caesar really surpass the resolution of a beautiful young woman, bred up in the light and commerce of our society, who still keeps herself whole. There is no doing so hard as not doing.

Michel de Montaigne
Beautiful, Ideas, Light
Michel de Montaigne (1956). “Autobiography: Comprising the Life of the Wisest Man of His Times ...”

If not for that of conscience, yet at least for ambition's sake, let us reject ambition, let us disdain that thirst of honor and renown, so low and mendicant; that it makes us beg it of all sorts of people.

Michel de Montaigne
Ambition, People, Honor
Michel de Montaigne (2013). “Michel de Montaigne: Selected Essays”, p.205, Courier Corporation

Whom conscience, ne'er asleep, Wounds with incessant strokes, not loud, but deep.

Michel de Montaigne
Incessant, Loud, Strokes
Michel de Montaigne (1850). “Works, Comprising His Essays, Letters, and Journey Through Germany and Italy: With Notes from All the Commentators, Biographical and Bibliographical Notices &c., &c”, p.193

The smallest annoyances, disturb us the most.

Michel de Montaigne
Happiness, Annoyance, Smallest

That is why Bias jested with those who were going through the perils of a great storm with him and calling on the gods for help: "Shut up," he said, "so that they do not realize that you are here with me.

Michel de Montaigne
Storm, Calling, Helping
Michel de Montaigne (1991). “The essays of Michel de Montaigne”, Lane, Allen

It is fear that I stand most in fear of, in sharpness it exceeds every other feeling.

Michel de Montaigne
Feelings, Sharpness, Exceed
Michel de Montaigne (1946). “The essays”

The desire for riches is more sharpened by their use than by their need. Pleasing all: a mark that can never be aimed at or hit.

Michel de Montaigne
Desire, Needs, Use

When I express my opinions it is so as to reveal the measure of my sight not the measure of the thing.

Michel de Montaigne
Sight, Opinion
Michel de Montaigne (1991). “The essays of Michel de Montaigne”, Lane, Allen

All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.

Michel de Montaigne
Passion, Suffering, Moderates
Michel de Montaigne (1853). “The Works of Michael de Montaigne: Comprising His Essays, Letters, and Journey Through Germany and Italy. With Notes from All the Commentators, Biographical and Bibliographical Notices &c., &c”, p.4

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