The most beautiful lives, to my mind, are those that conform to the common human pattern, with order, but without miracle and without eccentricity.
Michel de Montaigne
Life, Beauty, Conformity, Order, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne’s Quotes On Topics
Health | Quotation | Doubt | Reasoning | Authenticity | Prejudice | Human Rights | Self-care | Energy | Ignorance | Nurture | Social Engagement | Influence | Beginnings | Mind-body Connection | Intimacy | Equality | Presence | Hardship | Physicality | More
More Michel de Montaigne Quotes
“We are all of us richer than we think we are; but we are taught to borrow and to beg, and brought up more to make use of what is another's than of our own.” Michel de Montaigne
Self-reliance, Wealth, Education, Societal Critique, Human Potential
Michel de Montaigne Self-reliance, Wealth, Education, Societal Critique, Human Potential“I say that male and female are cast in the same mold; except for education and habits, the difference is not great.” Michel de Montaigne
Gender, Equality, Education, Human Nature, Social Construct
Michel de Montaigne Gender, Equality, Education, Human Nature, Social Construct“There is nothing useless in nature; not even uselessness itself.” Michel de Montaigne
Nature, Purpose, Perspective, Utility, Philosophical Reflection
Michel de Montaigne Nature, Purpose, Perspective, Utility, Philosophical Reflection“Order a purge for your brain, it will there be much better employed than upon your stomach.” Michel de Montaigne
Intellect, Health, Priorities, Wisdom, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Intellect, Health, Priorities, Wisdom, Human Nature“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“The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.” Michel de Montaigne
Self-ownership, Independence, Self-awareness, Individuality, Personal Freedom
Michel de Montaigne Self-ownership, Independence, Self-awareness, Individuality, Personal Freedom“A man must keep a little back shop where he can be himself without reserve. In solitude alone can he know true freedom.” Michel de Montaigne
Solitude, Freedom, Authenticity, Self-discovery, Inner Life
Michel de Montaigne Solitude, Freedom, Authenticity, Self-discovery, Inner Life“I leaf through books, I do not study them. What I retain of them is something I no longer recognize as anyone else's.” Michel de Montaigne
Reading, Knowledge, Learning, Memory, Individuality
Michel de Montaigne Reading, Knowledge, Learning, Memory, Individuality“Travelling through the world produces a marvellous clarity in the judgment of men. We are all of us confined and enclosed within ourselves, and see no farther than the end of our nose.” Michel de Montaigne
Travel, Judgment, Perspective, Human Nature, Self-awareness
Michel de Montaigne Travel, Judgment, Perspective, Human Nature, Self-awareness“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 Pleasure, Pain, Consequences, Wisdom, Human Nature“Ambition is not a vice of little people.” Michel de Montaigne
Ambition, Character, Human Nature, Greatness, Motivation
Michel de Montaigne Ambition, Character, Human Nature, Greatness, Motivation“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“A liar would be brave toward God, while he is a coward toward men; for a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.” Michel de Montaigne
Lying, Courage, Cowardice, Morality, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Lying, Courage, Cowardice, Morality, Human Nature“Who so hath his mind on taking, hath it no more on what he taketh.” Michel de Montaigne
Greed, Mindfulness, Possession, Human Nature, Philosophy
Michel de Montaigne Greed, Mindfulness, Possession, Human Nature, Philosophy“When I am attached by gloomy thoughts, nothing helps me so much as running to my books. They quickly absorb me and banish the clouds from my mind.” Michel de Montaigne
Books, Reading, Mental Health, Solace, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Books, Reading, Mental Health, Solace, Wisdom“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“Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest his head.” Michel de Montaigne
Ignorance, Comfort, Knowledge, Human Nature, Irony
Michel de Montaigne Ignorance, Comfort, Knowledge, Human Nature, Irony“The soul which has no fixed purpose in life is lost; to be everywhere, is to be nowhere.” Michel de Montaigne
Purpose, Life, Direction, Human Nature, Philosophy
Michel de Montaigne Purpose, Life, Direction, Human Nature, Philosophy