Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a flea, yet he makes gods by the dozens. Michel de Montaigne More Quotes by Michel de Montaigne More Quotes From Michel de Montaigne After a tongue has once got the knack of lying, it is not to be imagined how impossible almost it is to reclaim it. Whence it comes to pass, that we see some men, who are otherwise very honest, so subject to this vice. Michel de Montaigne vicesmenlying He that first likened glory to a shadow did better than he was aware of. They are both of them things excellently vain. Glory also, like a shadow, goes sometimes before the body, and sometimes in length infinitely exceeds it. Michel de Montaigne shadowbodyfirsts 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 decaydrugknowledge The shortest way to arrive at glory should be to do that for conscience which we do for glory. And the virtue of Alexander appears to me with much less vigor in his theater than that of Socrates in his mean and obscure. I can easily conceive Socrates in the place of Alexander, but Alexander in that of Socrates I cannot. Michel de Montaigne vigormeanway 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 coinsuselessdoe To how many blockheads of my time has a cold and taciturn demeanor procured the credit of prudence and capacity! Michel de Montaigne gravitycoldcredit The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe. Michel de Montaigne commandeventshistory Learning is not to be tacked to the mind, but we must fuse and blend them together, not merely giving the mind a slight tincture, but a thorough and perfect dye. And if we perceive no evident change and improvement, it would be better to leave it alone; learning is a dangerous weapon, and apt to wound its master if it be wielded by a feeble hand, and by one not well acquainted with its use. Michel de Montaigne learninggivinghands In my opinion it is the happy living, and not, as Antisthenes said, the happy lying, in which human happiness consists. Michel de Montaigne opinionhappinesslying For me, who only desire to become wise, not more learned or eloquent, these logical or Aristotelian dispositions of parts are of no use. Michel de Montaigne usewisedesire In the examples that I here bring in of what I have [read], heard, done or said, I have refrained from daring to alter even the smallest and most indifferent circumstances. My conscience falsifies not an iota; for my knowledge I cannot answer. Michel de Montaigne changeexampleknowledge We hold death, poverty, and grief for our principal enemies; but this death, which some repute the most dreadful of all dreadful things, who does not know that others call it the only secure harbor from the storm and tempests of life, the sovereign good of nature, the sole support of liberty, and the common and sudden remedy of all evils? Michel de Montaigne griefevildeath The first law that ever God gave to man was a law of pure obedience; it was a commandment naked and simple, wherein man had nothing to inquire after, or to dispute, forasmuch as to obey is the proper office of a rational soul, acknowledging a heavenly superior and benefactor. From obedience and submission spring all other virtues, as all sin does from self-opinion. Michel de Montaigne simplespringmen It is indeed the boundary of life, beyond which we are not to pass; which the law of nature has pitched for a limit not to be exceeded. Michel de Montaigne limitsagelaw The first distinction among men, and the first consideration that gave one precedence over another, was doubtless the advantage of beauty. Michel de Montaigne beautymenfirsts We have the pleasures suitable to our lot; let us not usurp those of greatness. Ours are more natural and all the more solid and sure for being humbler. Since we will not do so out of conscience, at least out of ambition let us reject ambition. Michel de Montaigne willpowergreatnessambition The world is but a perennial movement. All things in it are in constant motion-the earth, the rocks of the Caucasus, the pyramids of Egypt-both with the common motion and with their own. Michel de Montaigne egyptrockspyramids I look upon the too good opinion that man has of himself, as the nursing mother of all false opinions, both public and private. Michel de Montaigne nursingmothermen No pleasure is fully delightful without communications, and no delight absolute except imparted. Michel de Montaigne delightpleasurecommunication The thing in the world I am most afraid of is fear. Michel de Montaigne fearworld
