The way of the world is to make laws, but follow custom.
Michel de Montaigne
Law, Custom, Society, Human Nature, Critique
Michel de Montaigne’s Quotes On Topics
Societal Lessons | Trust | Discourse | Curiosity | Consciousness | Thought | Poetry | Self-care | Conscience | Royalty | Social Skills | Silence | Loneliness | Popular Opinion | Reputation | Honesty | Freedom | Philosophy | Self-limitation | Ego | More
More Michel de Montaigne Quotes
“If others examined themselves attentively, as I do, they would find themselves, as I do, full of inanity and nonsense. Get rid of it I cannot without getting rid of myself.” Michel de Montaigne
Self-awareness, Human Nature, Introspection, Acceptance, Identity
Michel de Montaigne Self-awareness, Human Nature, Introspection, Acceptance, Identity“God is favorable to those whom he makes to die by degrees; 'tis the only benefit of old age. The last death will be so much the less painful: it will kill but a quarter of a man or but half a one at most.” Michel de Montaigne
Aging, Death, God, Perspective, Human Condition
Michel de Montaigne Aging, Death, God, Perspective, Human Condition“Everyone gives the title of barbarism to everything that is not in use in his own country.” Michel de Montaigne
Cultural Relativism, Prejudice, Ethnocentrism, Perspective, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Cultural Relativism, Prejudice, Ethnocentrism, Perspective, Human Nature“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 aim here only at revealing myself, who will perhaps be different tomorrow, if I learn something new which changes me.” Michel de Montaigne
Self-revelation, Change, Learning, Personal Growth, Adaptability
Michel de Montaigne Self-revelation, Change, Learning, Personal Growth, Adaptability“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“The daughter-in-law of Pythagoras said that a woman who goes to bed with a man ought to lay aside her modesty with her skirt, and put it on again with her petticoat.” Michel de Montaigne
Modesty, Sexuality, Gender Roles, Social Norms, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Modesty, Sexuality, Gender Roles, Social Norms, Human Nature“The most certain sign of wisdom is continual cheerfulness.” Michel de Montaigne
Wisdom, Cheerfulness, Happiness, Perspective, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Wisdom, Cheerfulness, Happiness, Perspective, Human Nature“Off I go, rummaging about in books for sayings which please me.” Michel de Montaigne
Reading, Pleasure, Wisdom, Learning, Self-education
Michel de Montaigne Reading, Pleasure, Wisdom, Learning, Self-education“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“No wind favors he who has no destined port.” Michel de Montaigne
Purpose, Direction, Fate, Human Condition, Life Goals
Michel de Montaigne Purpose, Direction, Fate, Human Condition, Life Goals“The memory represents to us not what we choose but what it pleases.” Michel de Montaigne
Memory, Human Mind, Control, Perception, Psychology
Michel de Montaigne Memory, Human Mind, Control, Perception, Psychology“I quote others only in order the better to express myself.” Michel de Montaigne
Quotation, Self-expression, Communication, Wisdom, Learning
Michel de Montaigne Quotation, Self-expression, Communication, Wisdom, Learning“Seneca's virtue shows forth so live and vigorous in his writings, and the defense is so clear there against some of these imputations, as that of his wealth and excessive spending, that I would not believe any testimony to the contrary.” Michel de Montaigne
Virtue, Writing, Reputation, Judgment, Skepticism
Michel de Montaigne Virtue, Writing, Reputation, Judgment, Skepticism“My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.” Michel de Montaigne
Worry, Imagination, Life, Human Nature, Perspective
Michel de Montaigne Worry, Imagination, Life, Human Nature, Perspective“I would have every man write what he knows and no more.” Michel de Montaigne
Knowledge, Writing, Honesty, Wisdom, Self-awareness
Michel de Montaigne Knowledge, Writing, Honesty, Wisdom, Self-awareness“The public weal requires that men should betray, and lie, and massacre.” Michel de Montaigne
Politics, Morality, Society, Human Nature, Critique
Michel de Montaigne Politics, Morality, Society, Human Nature, Critique“All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.” Michel de Montaigne
Discourse, Advice, Humility, Communication, Self-awareness
Michel de Montaigne Discourse, Advice, Humility, Communication, Self-awareness