Happiness is a singular incentive to mediocrity.
Michel de Montaigne
Happiness, Mediocrity, Human Nature, Critique, Paradox
Michel de Montaigne’s Quotes On Topics
Liberty | Civility | Self-reflection | Human Development | Sociability | Philosophical Reflection | Fate | Change | Human Existence | Survival | Posterity | Quiet Life | Philosophical Inquiry | Sacrifice | Human Connection | Virtue | Expectation | Planning | Life Philosophy | Humanity | More
More Michel de Montaigne Quotes
“God defend me from being an honest man according to the description which every day I see made by each man to his own glorification.” Michel de Montaigne
Honesty, Self-perception, Societal Norms, Critique, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Honesty, Self-perception, Societal Norms, Critique, Human Nature“Each man calls barbarism whatever is not his own practice; for indeed it seems we have no other test of truth and reason than the example and pattern of the opinions and customs of the country we live in.” Michel de Montaigne
Cultural Relativism, Prejudice, Custom, Truth, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Cultural Relativism, Prejudice, Custom, Truth, Human Nature“The world is but a perennial movement. All things in it are in constant motion-the earth, the rocks of the Caucasus, the pyramids of Egypt-both with the common motion and with their own.” Michel de Montaigne
Change, Motion, World, Philosophy, Observation
Michel de Montaigne Change, Motion, World, Philosophy, Observation“If my mind could gain a firm footing, I would not make essays, I would make decisions; but it is always in apprenticeship and on trial.” Michel de Montaigne
Mind, Decision-making, Uncertainty, Learning, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Mind, Decision-making, Uncertainty, Learning, Human Nature“Happiness is a singular incentive to mediocrity.” Michel de Montaigne
Happiness, Mediocrity, Human Nature, Critique, Paradox
Michel de Montaigne Happiness, Mediocrity, Human Nature, Critique, Paradox“It is not death, it is dying that alarms me.” Michel de Montaigne
Death, Fear, Human Nature, Mortality, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Death, Fear, Human Nature, Mortality, Wisdom“To know how to live is my trade and my art.” Michel de Montaigne
Life, Wisdom, Art, Human Experience, Self-awareness
Michel de Montaigne Life, Wisdom, Art, Human Experience, Self-awareness“How many worthy men have we known to survive their own reputation, who have seen and suffered the honor and glory most justly acquired in their youth, extinguished in their own presence?” Michel de Montaigne
Reputation, Aging, Honor, Human Nature, Time
Michel de Montaigne Reputation, Aging, Honor, Human Nature, Time“I study myself more than any other subject. That is my metaphysics, that is my physics.” Michel de Montaigne
Self-study, Introspection, Philosophy, Knowledge, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Self-study, Introspection, Philosophy, Knowledge, Human Nature“Let us give Nature a chance; she knows her business better than we do.” Michel de Montaigne
Nature, Wisdom, Humility, Human Intervention, Trust
Michel de Montaigne Nature, Wisdom, Humility, Human Intervention, Trust“We need to interpret interpretations more than to interpret things.” Michel de Montaigne
Interpretation, Knowledge, Philosophy, Human Nature, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Interpretation, Knowledge, Philosophy, Human Nature, Wisdom“Even in the midst of compassion we feel within I know not what tart sweet titillation of malicious pleasure in seeing others suffer; children have the same feeling.” Michel de Montaigne
Compassion, Schadenfreude, Human Nature, Suffering, Psychology
Michel de Montaigne Compassion, Schadenfreude, Human Nature, Suffering, Psychology“A volunteer, you assign yourself specific roles and risks according to your judgement of their brilliance and importance, and you see when life itself may be justifiably devoted to them.” Michel de Montaigne
Volunteering, Judgment, Risk, Purpose, Life Choices
Michel de Montaigne Volunteering, Judgment, Risk, Purpose, Life Choices“Judgement can do without knowledge: but not knowledge without judgement.” Michel de Montaigne
Judgment, Knowledge, Wisdom, Human Nature, Intellect
Michel de Montaigne Judgment, Knowledge, Wisdom, Human Nature, Intellect“The only thing certain is nothing is certain.” Michel de Montaigne
Uncertainty, Philosophy, Knowledge, Skepticism, Human Condition
Michel de Montaigne Uncertainty, Philosophy, Knowledge, Skepticism, Human Condition“There is as much difference between us and ourselves as there is between us and others.” Michel de Montaigne
Self-perception, Change, Human Nature, Identity, Psychology
Michel de Montaigne Self-perception, Change, Human Nature, Identity, Psychology“If you walk on stilts, you're still walking on your feet. If you sit on the highest throne in the world, you're still sitting on your ass.” Michel de Montaigne
Humility, Perspective, Power, Human Nature, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Humility, Perspective, Power, Human Nature, Wisdom“It is good to rub and polish our brain against that of others.” Michel de Montaigne
Intellect, Interaction, Growth, Learning, Social Engagement
Michel de Montaigne Intellect, Interaction, Growth, Learning, Social Engagement