Michel de Montaigne Quotes

1533–1592 France

Michel de Montaigne (Michel Eyquem, lord of the manor of Montaigne, Dordogne) (28 February 1533 – 13 September 1592) was an influential French Renaissance writer, generally considered to be the inventor of the personal essay.

France
Essayists
Mayors
Philosophers

Also known as: Michel E. de Montaigne, Michel Eyquem, seigneur de Montaigne, Michel Montaigne, Montaigne, Montaigne, Michel de

Random Michel de Montaigne quote

278 quotes

When I play with my cat, who knows whether I do not make her more sport than she makes me?

Essais (1571)

Saturninus said, "Comrades, you have lost a good captain to make him an ill general."

Essais (1571)

For truth itself has not the privilege to be spoken at all times and in all sorts.

Essais (1571)

I have seen no more evident monstrosity and miracle in the world than myself.

Essais (1571)

All the opinions of the world agree in this, that pleasure is our end.

Essais (1571)

A man must be a little mad if he does not want to be even more stupid.

Essais (1571)

The only good histories are those that have been written by the persons themselves who commanded in the affairs whereof they write.

Essais (1571)

The public weal requires that men should betray and lie and massacre.

Essais (1571)

How many valiant men we have seen to survive their own reputation!

Essais (1571)

Nature forms us for ourselves, not for others; to be, not to seem.

Essais (1571)

As far as physicians go, chance is more valuable than knowledge.

Essais (1571)

All of the days go toward death and the last one arrives there.

Essais (1571)

He who would teach men to die would teach them to live.

Essais (1571)

Men are most apt to believe what they least understand.

Essais (1571)

Few men have been admired by their own domestics.

Essais (1571)

The secret counsels of princes are a troublesome burden to such as have only to execute them.

Pity and commiseration are mixed with some regard for the thing which one pities.

Essays (1580)

A feast not profuse but elegant; more of salt [refinement] than of expense.

Who is not sure of his memory should not attempt lying.

There is no man so good that if he placed all his actions and thoughts under the scrutiny of the laws, he would not deserve hanging ten times in his life.

Essais (1571)

Attribution

Quotes and notes from Wikiquote: Michel de Montaigne (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0.