Michel de Montaigne Quotes - Page 19

• I turn my gaze inward. I fix it there and keep it busy. I look inside myself. I continually observe myself.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Inward, Looks, Busy

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• I find that the best virtue I have has in it some tincture of vice.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Vices, Virtue

  Michel de Montaigne (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)”, p.1414, Delphi Classics

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• When I was young, beautiful ancient statues were castrated, so that the eye might not be corrupted.... Nothing was gained, unless horses and asses had also been castrated.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Beautiful, Horse, Eye

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• I look upon the too good opinion that man has of himself, as the nursing mother of all false opinions, both public and private.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Mother, Nursing, Men

  Michel de Montaigne (2015). “Essays of Montaigne”, p.760, Xist Publishing

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• There is nothing useless in nature; not even uselessness itself

  Michel de Montaigne

  Useless, Uselessness

  Michel de Montaigne (2016). “Delphi Complete Works of Michel de Montaigne (Illustrated)”, p.1542, Delphi Classics

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• We took advantage of [the Indians'] ignorance and inexperience to incline them the more easily toward treachery, lewdness, avarice, and every sort of inhumanity and cruelty, after the example and pattern of our ways.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Ignorance, America, Inexperience

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• Not because Socrates said so, but because it is in truth my own disposition — and perchance to some excess — I look upon all men as my compatriots, and embrace a Pole as a Frenchman, making less account of the national than of the universal and common bond.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Men, Looks, Excess

  "Essais" by Michel de Montaigne, Book III, Ch. 9, 1595.

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• Examples teach us that in military affairs, and all others of a like nature, study is apt to enervate and relax the courage of man, rather than to give strength and energy to the mind.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Military, Men, Giving

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• We have the pleasures suitable to our lot; let us not usurp those of greatness. Ours are more natural and all the more solid and sure for being humbler. Since we will not do so out of conscience, at least out of ambition let us reject ambition.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Ambition, Greatness, Willpower

  Michel de Montaigne (1976). “The Complete Essays of Montaigne”

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• Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!

  Michel de Montaigne

  Wisdom, Asceticism, Craving

  Michel de Montaigne (1958). “Complete Essays”, p.185, Stanford University Press

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• Off I go, rummaging about in books for sayings which please me.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Book, Please Me, Please

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

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• An able reader often discovers in other people's writings perfections beyond those that the author put in or perceived, and lends them richer meanings and aspects.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Writing, People, Perfection

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• There is no knowledge so hard to acquire as the knowledge of how to live this life well and naturally.

  Michel de Montaigne

  This Life, Live Well, Wells

  Michel de Montaigne (1958). “Complete Essays”, p.852, Stanford University Press

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• I have ever loved to repose myself, whether sitting or lying, with my heels as high or higher than my head.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Lying, Sitting, Higher

  Michel de Montaigne (1849). “Works: Comprising His Essays, Letters, and Journey Through Germany and Italy; with Notes, Notices, Etc”, p.535

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• Ambition is, of all other, the most contrary humor to solitude; and glory and repose are so inconsistent that they cannot possibly inhabit one and the same place; and for so much as I understand, those have only their arms and legs disengaged from the crowd, their mind and intention remain engaged behind more than ever.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Ambition, Solitude, Mind

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• Nature should have been pleased to have made this age miserable, without making it also ridiculous.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Time, Should Have, Age

  Michel de Montaigne (1603). “Essayes”, p.246

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• Courtesy, like grace and beauty, that which begets liking and inclination to love one another at the first sight, and in the very beginning of our acquaintance and familiarity; and, consequently, that which first opens the door for us to better ourselves by the example of others, if there be anything in the society worth notice

  Michel de Montaigne

  Sight, Doors, Grace

  Michel de Montaigne, William Hazlitt (1889). “The Complete Works of Michael de Montaigne: Comprising His Essays, Letters, and His Journey Through Germany and Italy ; Together with a Comprehensive Life and Side and Foot Notes from All the Commentators, Fully Explanatory of the Text ; Biographical and Bibliographical Notices, Etc., Etc”

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• The body enjoys a great share in our being, and has an eminent place in it. Its structure and composition, therefore, are worthy of proper consideration.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Body, Consideration, Share

  Michel de Montaigne (1958). “Essays”

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• I am much afraid that we shall have very greatly hastened the decline and ruin of the New World by our contagion, and that we willhave sold it our opinions and our arts very dear.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Art, Civilization, America

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• Oh, what a valiant faculty is hope, that in a mortal subject, and in a moment, makes nothing of usurping infinity, immensity, eternity, and of supplying its masters indigence, at its pleasure, with all things he can imagine or desire!

  Michel de Montaigne

  Hope, Desire, Infinity

  Michel de Montaigne (1894*). “The Essays of Michel de Montaigne”

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• Socrates and then Archesilaus used to make their pupils speak first; they spoke afterwards. 'Obest plerumque iss discere volunt authoritas eorum qui docent.' [For those who want to learn, the obstacle can often be the authority of those who teach]

  Michel de Montaigne

  Educational, Often Is, Want

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

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• The finest souls are those that have the most variety and suppleness.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Soul, Finest, Variety

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• Is there anything so grave and serious as an ass?

  Michel de Montaigne

  Serious, Ass, Graves

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• Not only does the wind of accidents stir me according to its blowing, but I am also stirred and troubled by the instability of my attitude.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Attitude, Wind, Doe

  Michel de Montaigne (1946). “The essays”

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• A well-bred man is always sociable and complaisant.

  Michel de Montaigne

  Men, Manners, Wells

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