We do not marry for ourselves, whatever we say; we marry just as much or more for our posterity, for our family. The practice and benefit of marriage concerns our race very far beyond us.
Michel de Montaigne
Marriage, Family, Posterity, Human Nature, Societal Impact
Michel de Montaigne’s Quotes On Topics
Wisdom | Moral Growth | Money | Intention | Stubbornness | Curiosity | Hypocrisy | Caution | Opportunity | Moderation | Human Perception | Desire | Flexibility | Growth | Subjectivity | Misfortune | Military | Senses | Consequences | Philosophical Inquiry | More
More Michel de Montaigne Quotes
“Examples teach us that in military affairs, and all others of a like nature, study is apt to enervate and relax the courage of man, rather than to give strength and energy to the mind.” Michel de Montaigne
Military, Study, Courage, Human Nature, Paradox
Michel de Montaigne Military, Study, Courage, Human Nature, Paradox“The religion of my doctor or my lawyer cannot matter. That consideration has nothing in common with the functions of the friendship they owe me.” Michel de Montaigne
Religion, Profession, Friendship, Tolerance, Human Relationships
Michel de Montaigne Religion, Profession, Friendship, Tolerance, Human Relationships“The most evident token and apparent sign of true wisdom is a constant and unconstrained rejoicing.” Michel de Montaigne
Wisdom, Joy, Happiness, Human Nature, Philosophy
Michel de Montaigne Wisdom, Joy, Happiness, Human Nature, Philosophy“Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.” Michel de Montaigne
Fortune, Wisdom, Luck, Human Nature, Irony
Michel de Montaigne Fortune, Wisdom, Luck, Human Nature, Irony“Fortune does us neither good nor hurt; she only presents us the matter, and the seed, which our soul, more powerfully than she, turns and applies as she best pleases; being the sole cause and sovereign mistress of her own happy or unhappy condition.” Michel de Montaigne
Fortune, Free Will, Happiness, Human Nature, Responsibility
Michel de Montaigne Fortune, Free Will, Happiness, Human Nature, Responsibility“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 Life, Beauty, Conformity, Order, Human Nature“Women are more susceptible to pain than to pleasure.” Michel de Montaigne
Gender, Pain, Pleasure, Human Nature, Psychology
Michel de Montaigne Gender, Pain, Pleasure, Human Nature, Psychology“Valor is stability, not of legs and arms, but of courage and the soul.” Michel de Montaigne
Valor, Courage, Strength, Character, Human Spirit
Michel de Montaigne Valor, Courage, Strength, Character, Human Spirit“The finest souls are those that have the most variety and suppleness.” Michel de Montaigne
Character, Adaptability, Human Nature, Wisdom, Excellence
Michel de Montaigne Character, Adaptability, Human Nature, Wisdom, Excellence“Virtue rejects facility to be her companion. She requires a craggy, rough and thorny way.” Michel de Montaigne
Virtue, Difficulty, Character, Human Nature, Moral Growth
Michel de Montaigne Virtue, Difficulty, Character, Human Nature, Moral Growth“Children's playthings are not sports and should be deemed as their most serious actions.” Michel de Montaigne
Childhood, Play, Seriousness, Human Nature, Perspective
Michel de Montaigne Childhood, Play, Seriousness, Human Nature, Perspective“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“Seeing that the Senses cannot decide our dispute, being themselves full of uncertainty, we must have recourse to Reason; there is no reason but must be built upon another reason: so here we are retreating backwards to infinity.” Michel de Montaigne
Reason, Senses, Knowledge, Philosophy, Uncertainty
Michel de Montaigne Reason, Senses, Knowledge, Philosophy, Uncertainty“I have never seen a greater monster or miracle in the world than myself.” Michel de Montaigne
Self-awareness, Human Nature, Introspection, Complexity, Paradox
Michel de Montaigne Self-awareness, Human Nature, Introspection, Complexity, Paradox“I determine nothing; I do not comprehend things; I suspend judgment; I examine.” Michel de Montaigne
Skepticism, Judgment, Examination, Philosophy, Knowledge
Michel de Montaigne Skepticism, Judgment, Examination, Philosophy, Knowledge“No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.” Michel de Montaigne
Foolishness, Speech, Intention, Human Nature, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Foolishness, Speech, Intention, Human Nature, Wisdom“The greater part of the world's troubles are due to questions of grammar.” Michel de Montaigne
Language, Conflict, Human Nature, Communication, Critique
Michel de Montaigne Language, Conflict, Human Nature, Communication, Critique“Greatness of soul consists not so much in soaring high and in pressing forward, as in knowing how to adapt and limit oneself.” Michel de Montaigne
Greatness, Adaptation, Self-limitation, Wisdom, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Greatness, Adaptation, Self-limitation, Wisdom, Human Nature