To compose our character is our duty, not to compose books, and to win, not battles and provinces, but order and tranquility in our conduct.
Michel de Montaigne
Character, Duty, Priorities, Self-improvement, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne’s Quotes On Topics
Comfort | Adaptation | Attachment | Conflict | Life Goals | Human Spirit | Human Relationships | Opportunity | Poverty | Joy | Self-worth | Senses | Interest | Creation | Human Interaction | Self-study | Rest | Sacrifice | Self-loathing | Philosophical Insight | More
More Michel de Montaigne Quotes
“I may indeed very well happen to contradict myself; but truth, as Demades said, I do not contradict.” Michel de Montaigne
Truth, Contradiction, Self-awareness, Human Nature, Philosophy
Michel de Montaigne Truth, Contradiction, Self-awareness, Human Nature, Philosophy“We are more unhappy to see people ahead of us than happy to see people behind us.” Michel de Montaigne
Envy, Comparison, Human Nature, Happiness, Social Dynamics
Michel de Montaigne Envy, Comparison, Human Nature, Happiness, Social Dynamics“Those things that are dearest to us have cost us the most.” Michel de Montaigne
Value, Cost, Attachment, Human Nature, Priorities
Michel de Montaigne Value, Cost, Attachment, Human Nature, Priorities“Aesop, that great man, saw his master making water as he walked. "What!" he said, "Must we void ourselves as we run?" Use our time as best we may, yet a great part of it will still be idly and ill spent.” Michel de Montaigne
Time Management, Wisdom, Human Nature, Efficiency, Critique
Michel de Montaigne Time Management, Wisdom, Human Nature, Efficiency, Critique“Speech belongs half to the speaker, half to the listener. The latter must prepare to receive it according to the motion it takes.” Michel de Montaigne
Communication, Understanding, Responsibility, Wisdom, Human Interaction
Michel de Montaigne Communication, Understanding, Responsibility, Wisdom, Human Interaction“The great and glorious masterpiece of men is to live to the point. All other things-to reign, to hoard, to build-are, at most, but inconsiderable props and appendages.” Michel de Montaigne
Life Purpose, Priorities, Human Existence, Meaning, Perspective
Michel de Montaigne Life Purpose, Priorities, Human Existence, Meaning, Perspective“If I am to serve as an instrument of deceit, at least let it be with a clear conscience. I do not want to be considered either so affectionate or so loyal a servant as to be found fit to betray anyone.” Michel de Montaigne
Honesty, Loyalty, Conscience, Integrity, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Honesty, Loyalty, Conscience, Integrity, Human Nature“Lay a beam between these two towers of such width as we need to walk on: there is no philosophical wisdom of such great firmness that it can give us courage to walk on it as we should if it were on the ground.” Michel de Montaigne
Courage, Wisdom, Human Nature, Fear, Perspective
Michel de Montaigne Courage, Wisdom, Human Nature, Fear, Perspective“Truly man is a marvelously vain, diverse, and undulating object. It is hard to found any constant and uniform judgment on him.” Michel de Montaigne
Human Nature, Complexity, Judgment, Diversity, Philosophy
Michel de Montaigne Human Nature, Complexity, Judgment, Diversity, Philosophy“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“It is in vain that we get upon stilts, for once on them, it is still with our legs that we must walk. And on the highest throne in the world we are still sitting on our own ass.” Michel de Montaigne
Humility, Reality, Human Nature, Power, Perspective
Michel de Montaigne Humility, Reality, Human Nature, Power, Perspective“Knowledge is an excellent drug; but no drug has virtue enough to preserve itself from corruption and decay, if the vessel be tainted and impure wherein it is put to keep.” Michel de Montaigne
Knowledge, Corruption, Wisdom, Human Nature, Metaphor
Michel de Montaigne Knowledge, Corruption, Wisdom, Human Nature, Metaphor“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“Why dost thou complain of this world? It detains thee not; thy own cowardice is the cause, if thou livest in pain.” Michel de Montaigne
Responsibility, Courage, Suffering, Life, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Responsibility, Courage, Suffering, Life, Human Nature“If your doctor does not think it good for you to sleep, to drink wine, or to eat of a particular dish, do not worry; I will find you another who will not agree with him.” Michel de Montaigne
Medicine, Opinion, Diversity, Human Nature, Skepticism
Michel de Montaigne Medicine, Opinion, Diversity, Human Nature, Skepticism“Friendship that possesses the whole soul, and there rules and sways with an absolute sovereignty, can admit of no rival.” Michel de Montaigne
Friendship, Devotion, Loyalty, Human Relationships, Exclusivity
Michel de Montaigne Friendship, Devotion, Loyalty, Human Relationships, Exclusivity“There is no desire more natural than the desire for knowledge.” Michel de Montaigne
Knowledge, Curiosity, Human Nature, Learning, Intellectual Pursuit
Michel de Montaigne Knowledge, Curiosity, Human Nature, Learning, Intellectual Pursuit“The beauty of stature is the only beauty of men.” Michel de Montaigne
Beauty, Physicality, Men, Perception, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Beauty, Physicality, Men, Perception, Human Nature