I conceive that pleasures are to be avoided if greater pains be the consequence, and pains to be coveted that will terminate in greater pleasures.
Michel de Montaigne
Pleasure, Pain, Consequences, Wisdom, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne’s Quotes On Topics
Admiration | Social Influence | Spirit | Self-control | Method | Appetite | Flexibility | Self-governance | Human Nature | Intention | Misfortune | Politics | Goodness | Animal Comparison | Honesty | Complexity | Limitations | Soul | Stubbornness | Self-perception | More
More Michel de Montaigne Quotes
“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“The beginnings of all things are weak and tender. We must therefore be clear-sighted in the beginnings, for, as in their budding we discern not the danger, so in their full growth we perceive not the remedy.” Michel de Montaigne
Beginnings, Foresight, Growth, Wisdom, Caution
Michel de Montaigne Beginnings, Foresight, Growth, Wisdom, Caution“The world is but a school of inquisition; it is not who shall enter the ring, but who shall run the best courses.” Michel de Montaigne
Life, Competition, Learning, Achievement, Human Experience
Michel de Montaigne Life, Competition, Learning, Achievement, Human Experience“To smell, though well, is to stink.” Michel de Montaigne
Perception, Senses, Paradox, Human Nature, Perspective
Michel de Montaigne Perception, Senses, Paradox, Human Nature, Perspective“A father is very miserable who has no other hold on his children's affection than the need they have of his assistance, if that can be called affection.” Michel de Montaigne
Parenting, Affection, Dependency, Relationships, Family Dynamics
Michel de Montaigne Parenting, Affection, Dependency, Relationships, Family Dynamics“Experience has taught me this, that we undo ourselves by impatience. Misfortunes have their life and their limits, their sickness and their health.” Michel de Montaigne
Patience, Experience, Misfortune, Wisdom, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Patience, Experience, Misfortune, Wisdom, Human Nature“No man is a hero to his own valet.” Michel de Montaigne
Heroism, Perception, Familiarity, Human Nature, Reputation
Michel de Montaigne Heroism, Perception, Familiarity, Human Nature, Reputation“It should be noted that children at play are not playing about; their games should be seen as their most serious-minded activity.” Michel de Montaigne
Children, Play, Seriousness, Human Nature, Development
Michel de Montaigne Children, Play, Seriousness, Human Nature, Development“Taking it all in all, I find it is more trouble to watch after money than to get it.” Michel de Montaigne
Money, Wealth, Priorities, Human Nature, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Money, Wealth, Priorities, Human Nature, Wisdom“Presumption is our natural and original malady. The most vulnerable and frail of all creatures is man, and at the same time the most arrogant.” Michel de Montaigne
Presumption, Human Nature, Vulnerability, Arrogance, Paradox
Michel de Montaigne Presumption, Human Nature, Vulnerability, Arrogance, Paradox“The day of your birth leads you to death as well as to life.” Michel de Montaigne
Birth, Death, Life Cycle, Human Condition, Philosophy
Michel de Montaigne Birth, Death, Life Cycle, Human Condition, Philosophy“I am afraid that our eyes are bigger than our stomachs, and that we have more curiosity than understanding. We grasp at everything, but catch nothing except wind.” Michel de Montaigne
Curiosity, Understanding, Human Nature, Ambition, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Curiosity, Understanding, Human Nature, Ambition, Wisdom“No wonder, said an Ancient, that chance has so much power over us, since it is by chance that we live.” Michel de Montaigne
Chance, Fate, Life, Human Condition, Philosophy
Michel de Montaigne Chance, Fate, Life, Human Condition, Philosophy“A man of genius belongs to no period and no country. He speaks the language of nature, which is always everywhere the same.” Michel de Montaigne
Genius, Universality, Nature, Creativity, Human Potential
Michel de Montaigne Genius, Universality, Nature, Creativity, Human Potential“My errors are by now natural and incorrigible; but the good that worthy men do the public by making themselves imitable, I shall perhaps do by making myself evitable.” Michel de Montaigne
Self-awareness, Influence, Human Nature, Society, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Self-awareness, Influence, Human Nature, Society, Wisdom“No pleasure is fully delightful without communications, and no delight absolute except imparted.” Michel de Montaigne
Pleasure, Communication, Sharing, Human Connection, Joy
Michel de Montaigne Pleasure, Communication, Sharing, Human Connection, Joy“Oh senseless man, who cannot possibly make a worm or a flea and yet will create Gods by the dozen!” Michel de Montaigne
Religion, Human Nature, Creation, Hubris, Irony
Michel de Montaigne Religion, Human Nature, Creation, Hubris, Irony“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
Wisdom, Individuality, Judgment, Society, Conformity
Michel de Montaigne Wisdom, Individuality, Judgment, Society, Conformity