When all is summed up, a man never speaks of himself without loss; his accusations of himself are always believed; his praises never.
Michel de Montaigne
Self-perception, Reputation, Human Nature, Communication, Judgment
Michel de Montaigne’s Quotes On Topics
Conflict Resolution | Sanity | Utility | Childhood | Suffering | Prejudice | Inner Wealth | Teaching | Self-expression | Habit | Leadership | Risk | Books | Privacy | Development | Truth | Integrity | Freedom | Reputation | Custom | More
More Michel de Montaigne Quotes
“In the education of children there is nothing like alluring the interest and affection; otherwise you only make so many asses laden with books.” Michel de Montaigne
Education, Interest, Affection, Learning, Critique
Michel de Montaigne Education, Interest, Affection, Learning, Critique“I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own but the thread that tied them together.” Michel de Montaigne
Creativity, Compilation, Originality, Metaphor, Intellectual Humility
Michel de Montaigne Creativity, Compilation, Originality, Metaphor, Intellectual Humility“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“Who is it that does not voluntarily exchange his health, his repose, and his very life for reputation and glory? The most useless, frivolous, and false coin that passes current among us.” Michel de Montaigne
Reputation, Glory, Values, Critique, Human Folly
Michel de Montaigne Reputation, Glory, Values, Critique, Human Folly“It is not a mind, it is not a body that we educate, but it is a man, and we must not make two parts of him.” Michel de Montaigne
Education, Holistic Approach, Human Nature, Mind-body Connection, Personal Development
Michel de Montaigne Education, Holistic Approach, Human Nature, Mind-body Connection, Personal Development“As far as physicians go, chance is more valuable than knowledge.” Michel de Montaigne
Medicine, Chance, Knowledge, Skepticism, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Medicine, Chance, Knowledge, Skepticism, Human Nature“Women are not entirely wrong when they reject the moral rules proclaimed in society, since it is we men alone who have made them.” Michel de Montaigne
Gender, Morality, Society, Critique, Feminism
Michel de Montaigne Gender, Morality, Society, Critique, Feminism“My reason is not framed to bend or stoop: my knees are.” Michel de Montaigne
Reason, Flexibility, Pride, Human Nature, Metaphor
Michel de Montaigne Reason, Flexibility, Pride, Human Nature, Metaphor“Others form man; I tell of him, and portray a particular one, very ill-formed, whom I should really make very different from what he is if I had to fashion him over again. But now it is done.” Michel de Montaigne
Humanity, Individuality, Self-reflection, Imperfection, Acceptance
Michel de Montaigne Humanity, Individuality, Self-reflection, Imperfection, Acceptance“It is a stupid presumption to go about despising and condemning as false anything that seems to us improbable; this is a common fault in those who think they have more intelligence than the crowd.” Michel de Montaigne
Presumption, Judgment, Intelligence, Open-mindedness, Human Nature
Michel de Montaigne Presumption, Judgment, Intelligence, Open-mindedness, Human Nature“A man should not so much respect what he eats, as with whom he eats.” Michel de Montaigne
Companionship, Food, Social Interaction, Priorities, Human Connection
Michel de Montaigne Companionship, Food, Social Interaction, Priorities, Human Connection“If falsehood, like truth, had but one face, we would be more on equal terms. For we would consider the contrary of what the liar said to be certain. But the opposite of truth has a hundred thousand faces and an infinite field.” Michel de Montaigne
Truth, Falsehood, Complexity, Human Nature, Perception
Michel de Montaigne Truth, Falsehood, Complexity, Human Nature, Perception“No-one is exempt from speaking nonsense – the only misfortune is to do it solemnly.” Michel de Montaigne
Foolishness, Speech, Humor, Human Nature, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Foolishness, Speech, Humor, Human Nature, Wisdom“I have often seen people uncivil by too much civility, and tiresome in their courtesy.” Michel de Montaigne
Civility, Courtesy, Excess, Human Nature, Social Interaction
Michel de Montaigne Civility, Courtesy, Excess, Human Nature, Social Interaction“The most profound joy has more of gravity than of gaiety in it.” Michel de Montaigne
Joy, Gravity, Emotion, Depth, Human Experience
Michel de Montaigne Joy, Gravity, Emotion, Depth, Human Experience“Nothing else but an insatiate thirst of enjoying a greedily desired object.” Michel de Montaigne
Desire, Pleasure, Human Nature, Indulgence, Passion
Michel de Montaigne Desire, Pleasure, Human Nature, Indulgence, Passion“Every day I hear stupid people say things that are not stupid.” Michel de Montaigne
Wisdom, Stupidity, Surprise, Human Nature, Perception
Michel de Montaigne Wisdom, Stupidity, Surprise, Human Nature, Perception“Thus we should beware of clinging to vulgar opinions, and judge things by reason's way, not by popular say.” Michel de Montaigne
Judgment, Reason, Popular Opinion, Critical Thinking, Wisdom
Michel de Montaigne Judgment, Reason, Popular Opinion, Critical Thinking, Wisdom