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Labour not after riches first, and think thou afterwards wilt enjoy them. He who neglecteth the present moment, throweth away all that he hath. As the arrow passeth through the heart, while the warrior knew not that it was coming; so shall his life be taken away before he knoweth that he hath it.

— Michel de Montaigne Attributed

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More quotes by Michel de Montaigne

They make me hate things that are likely, when they would impose them upon me as infallible.

Essais (1571)

I do not speak the minds of others except to speak my own mind better.

Essais (1571)

What of a truth that is bounded by these mountains and is falsehood to the world that lives beyond?

Essais (1571)

God's justice and His power are inseparable; 'tis in vain we invoke His power in an unjust cause.

Essais (1571)

Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a worm, and yet he will be making gods by dozens.

Essais (1571)

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Attribution

Quote text and notes from Wikiquote: Michel de Montaigne (page history), available under CC BY-SA 4.0. Source quality and labels are our own summary of what Wikiquote records.