One open way of speaking introduces another open way of speaking, and draws out discoveries, like wine and love. Michel de Montaigne More Quotes by Michel de Montaigne More Quotes From Michel de Montaigne Oh, what a valiant faculty is hope, that in a mortal subject, and in a moment, makes nothing of usurping infinity, immensity, eternity, and of supplying its masters indigence, at its pleasure, with all things he can imagine or desire! Michel de Montaigne infinityhopedesire He that had never seen a river, imagined the first he met with to be the sea. Michel de Montaigne ignorancesearivers Is there a polity better ordered, the offices better distributed, and more inviolably observed and maintained, than that of bees? Michel de Montaigne insectsofficebees The judgment is an utensil proper for all subjects, and will have an oar in everything. Michel de Montaigne oarutensilsjudgment We easily enough confess in others an advantage of courage, strength, experience, activity, and beauty; but an advantage in judgment we yield to none. Michel de Montaigne judgmentyieldenough He who falls obstinate in his courage, if he falls he fights from his knees. Michel de Montaigne kneesfightingfall The perpetual work of your life is but to lay the foundation of death. Michel de Montaigne foundationlife-isdeath No man dies before his hour. The time you leave behind was no more yours, than that which was before your birth, and concerneth you no more. Michel de Montaigne birthmendeath Men ... are not agreed about any one thing, not even that heaven is over our heads. Michel de Montaigne agreementmenheaven How often, being moved under a false cause, if the person offending makes a good defense and presents us with a just excuse, are we angry against truth and innocence itself? Michel de Montaigne offendingdefenseanger I seek in the reading of books, only to please myself, by an honest diversion. Michel de Montaigne honestreadingbook For table-talk, I prefer the pleasant and witty before the learned and the grave; in bed, beauty before goodness. Michel de Montaigne bedtableswitty An ancient father says that a dog we know is better company than a man whose language we do not understand. Michel de Montaigne dogmenfather We find ourselves more taken with the running up and down, the games, and puerile simplicities of our children, than we do, afterward, with their most complete actions; as if we had loved them for our sport, like monkeys, and not as men. Michel de Montaigne runningsportschildren Tis faith alone that vividly and certainly comprehends the deep mysteries of our religion. Michel de Montaigne mysterychristian Every place swarms with commentaries; of authors there is great scarcity. Michel de Montaigne scarcitycommentarycriticism We every day and every hour say things of another that we might more properly say of ourselves, could we but apply our observations to our own concerns. Michel de Montaigne hourscriticismmight I admire the assurance and confidence everyone has in himself, whereas there is hardly anything I am sure I know or that I dare give my word I can do. Michel de Montaigne confidenceadmiregiving Nature has, herself, I fear, imprinted in man a kind of instinct to inhumanity. Michel de Montaigne instinctkindmen The laws of conscience, though we ascribe them to nature, actually come from custom. Michel de Montaigne customsconsciencelaw
