A man must learn to endure patiently what he cannot avoid conveniently. Michel de Montaigne More Quotes by Michel de Montaigne More Quotes From Michel de Montaigne I would rather be old for a shorter time than be old before my time. Michel de Montaigne lifetimeselfage I cruelly hate cruelty, both by nature and reason, as the worst of all the vices. But then I am so soft in this that I cannot seea chicken's neck wrung without distress, and cannot bear to hear the squealing of a hare between the teeth of my hounds. Michel de Montaigne huntinghatevices Gentleness and repose are paramount to everything else in woman. Michel de Montaigne paramountreposegentleness Lying is a disgraceful vice, and one that Plutarch paints in most disgraceful colors, when he says that it is "affording testimony that one first despises God, and then fears men." It is not possible more happily to describe its horrible, disgusting, and abandoned nature; for can we imagine anything more vile than to be cowards with regard to men, and brave with regard to God. Michel de Montaigne colormenlying Pleasure itself is painful at the bottom. Michel de Montaigne bottompleasurepainful The good opinion of the vulgar is injurious. Michel de Montaigne vulgarpopularityopinion The vulgar and common esteem is seldom happy in hitting right; and I am much mistaken if, amongst the writings of my time, the worst are not those which have most gained the popular applause. Michel de Montaigne hittingcommonwriting As soon as women become ours we are no longer theirs. Michel de Montaigne possession The curiosity of knowing things has been given to man for a scourge. Michel de Montaigne curiosityknowingmen Business in a certain sort of men is a mark of understanding, and they are honored for it. Their souls seek repose in agitation, as children do by being rocked in a cradle. They may pronounce themselves as serviceable to their friends as troublesome to themselves. No one distributes his money to others, but every one therein distributes his time and his life. There is nothing of which we are so prodigal as of those two things, of which to be thrifty would be both commendable and useful. Michel de Montaigne businessmenchildren Whatever is preached to us, and whatever we learn, we should still remember that it is man that gives, and man that receives; it is a mortal hand that presents it to us, it is a mortal hand that accepts it. Michel de Montaigne givingmenhands To divert myself from a troublesome fancy, it is but to run to my books; they presently fix me to them, and drive the other out of my thoughts, and do not mutiny to see that I have only recourse to them for want of other more, real, natural, and lively conveniences; they always receive me with the same kindness. Michel de Montaigne realkindnessrunning Ambition is, of all other, the most contrary humor to solitude; and glory and repose are so inconsistent that they cannot possibly inhabit one and the same place; and for so much as I understand, those have only their arms and legs disengaged from the crowd, their mind and intention remain engaged behind more than ever. Michel de Montaigne solitudeambitionmind Ambition sufficiently plagues her proselytes, by keeping themselves always in show, like the statue of a public place. Michel de Montaigne plagueambitionshows We call comeliness a mischance in the first respect, which belongs principally to the face. Michel de Montaigne facesbeautyfirsts If love and ambition should be in equal balance, and come to jostle with equal force, I make no doubt but that the last would win the prize. Michel de Montaigne ambitiondoubtwinning If not for that of conscience, yet at least for ambition's sake, let us reject ambition, let us disdain that thirst of honor and renown, so low and mendicant; that it makes us beg it of all sorts of people. Michel de Montaigne ambitionhonorpeople Beauty is the true prerogative of women, and so peculiarly their own, that our sex, though naturally requiring another sort of feature, is never in its lustre but when puerile and beardless, confused and mixed with theirs. Michel de Montaigne confusedbeautysex Most pleasures embrace us but to strangle. Michel de Montaigne embracepleasure The premeditation of death is the premeditation of liberty; he who has learnt to die has forgot to serve. Michel de Montaigne premeditationlibertydeath
