I write to keep from going mad from the contradictions I find among mankind – and to work some of those contradictions out for myself.
Michel de Montaigne
Writing, Sanity, Contradictions, Human Nature, Self-reflection
Michel de Montaigne’s Quotes On Topics
Poverty | Perseverance | Self-awareness | Art | Contradictions | Intelligence | Study | Boundaries | Loss | Manners | Human Spirit | Effort | Self-ownership | Miracles | Change | Living | Wine | Childhood | Life | Lifelong Learning | More
More Michel de Montaigne Quotes
“We are Christians by the same title as we are natives of Perigord or Germany.” Michel de Montaigne
Religion, Nationality, Identity, Human Nature, Cultural Influence
Michel de Montaigne Religion, Nationality, Identity, Human Nature, Cultural Influence“A lady could not boast of her chastity who was never tempted.” Michel de Montaigne
Virtue, Temptation, Human Nature, Morality, Experience
Michel de Montaigne Virtue, Temptation, Human Nature, Morality, Experience“A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband.” Michel de Montaigne
Marriage, Humor, Gender, Relationships, Critique
Michel de Montaigne Marriage, Humor, Gender, Relationships, Critique“From Obedience and submission comes all our virtues, and all sin is comes from self-opinion.” Michel de Montaigne
Virtue, Obedience, Sin, Self-opinion, Morality
Michel de Montaigne Virtue, Obedience, Sin, Self-opinion, Morality“Lying is a terrible vice, it testifies that one despises God, but fears men.” Michel de Montaigne
Lying, Morality, Fear, Religion, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Lying, Morality, Fear, Religion, Human Nature“What harm cause not those huge draughts or pictures which wanton youth with chalk or coals draw in each passage, wall or stairs of our great houses, whence a cruel contempt of our natural store is bred in them?” Michel de Montaigne
Youth, Art, Society, Critique, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Youth, Art, Society, Critique, Human Nature“Love is like playing the piano. First you must learn to play by the rules, then you must forget the rules and play from your heart. If I were pressed to say why I loved him, I feel that my only reply could be: Because it was he, because it was I.” Michel de Montaigne
Love, Rules, Heart, Individuality, Relationships
Michel de Montaigne Love, Rules, Heart, Individuality, Relationships“I see several animals that live so entire and perfect a life, some without sight, others without hearing: who knows whether to us also one, two, or three, or many other senses, may not be wanting?” Michel de Montaigne
Perception, Senses, Human Nature, Limitations, Philosophy
Michel de Montaigne Perception, Senses, Human Nature, Limitations, Philosophy“Nature is a gentle guide, but not more sweet and gentle than prudent and just.” Michel de Montaigne
Nature, Guidance, Prudence, Justice, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Nature, Guidance, Prudence, Justice, Wisdom“I listen with attention to the judgment of all men; but so far as I can remember, I have followed none but my own.” Michel de Montaigne
Judgment, Independence, Self-reliance, Wisdom, Individuality
Michel de Montaigne Judgment, Independence, Self-reliance, Wisdom, Individuality“Laws are maintained in credit, not because they are essentially just, but because they are laws. It is the mystical foundation of their authority; they have none other.” Michel de Montaigne
Law, Authority, Justice, Society, Critique
Michel de Montaigne Law, Authority, Justice, Society, Critique“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“There is some shadow of delight and delicacy which smiles upon and flatters us even in the very lap of melancholy.” Michel de Montaigne
Melancholy, Joy, Human Emotion, Duality, Emotional Complexity
Michel de Montaigne Melancholy, Joy, Human Emotion, Duality, Emotional Complexity“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“T is one and the same Nature that rolls on her course, and whoever has sufficiently considered the present state of things might certainly conclude as to both the future and the past.” Michel de Montaigne
Nature, Time, Philosophy, Observation, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Nature, Time, Philosophy, Observation, Wisdom“The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them... Whether you find satisfaction in life depends not on your tale of years, but on your will.” Michel de Montaigne
Life, Purpose, Satisfaction, Will, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Life, Purpose, Satisfaction, Will, Wisdom“There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.” Michel de Montaigne
Defeat, Triumph, Perspective, Adversity, Human Experience
Michel de Montaigne Defeat, Triumph, Perspective, Adversity, Human Experience“Dreams are faithful interpreters of our inclinations; but there is art required to sort and understand them.” Michel de Montaigne
Dreams, Interpretation, Self-awareness, Psychology, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Dreams, Interpretation, Self-awareness, Psychology, Human Nature