The laws of conscience, though we ascribe them to nature, actually come from custom. Michel de Montaigne More Quotes by Michel de Montaigne More Quotes From Michel de Montaigne The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them... Whether you find satisfaction in life depends not on your tale of years, but on your will. Michel de Montaigne satisfaction-in-lifelyingyears Every movement reveals us. Michel de Montaigne movement My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened. Michel de Montaigne inspirationallifefunny The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself. Michel de Montaigne being-alonerespectself-esteem Don't discuss yourself, for you are bound to lose; if you belittle yourself, you are believed; if you praise yourself, you are disbelieved. Michel de Montaigne belittleifspraise We must learn to endure what we cannot avoid. Our life is composed, like the harmony of the world, of contrary things, also of different tones, sweet and harsh, sharp and flat, soft and loud. If a musician liked only one kind, what would he have to say? Michel de Montaigne diversitysweetlife There is no conversation more boring than the one where everybody agrees. Michel de Montaigne politicalagreementwisdom If there is such a thing as a good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love. Michel de Montaigne marriageifslove In true education, anything that comes to our hand is as good as a book: the prank of a page- boy, the blunder of a servant, a bit of table talk - they are all part of the curriculum. Michel de Montaigne boysbookhands The only thing certain is nothing is certain. Michel de Montaigne wisdomwisepositive A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears. Michel de Montaigne fearmenhappy-life Marriage is like a cage; one sees the birds outside desperate to get in, and those inside equally desperate to get out. Michel de Montaigne weddingmarriagebird I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly. Michel de Montaigne learningteachingeducation Stubborn and ardent clinging to one's opinion is the best proof of stupidity. Michel de Montaigne stubbornopinionstupid A good marriage would be between a blind wife and a deaf husband. Michel de Montaigne weddingmarriageanniversary God might grant us riches, honours, life, and even health, to our own hurt; for every thing that is pleasing to us is not always good for us. If he sends us death, or an increase of sickness, instead of a cure, Vvrga tua et baculus, tuus ipsa me consolata sunt. "Thy rod and thy staff have comforted me," he does it by the rule of his providence, which better and more certainly discerns what is proper for us than we can do; and we ought to take it in good part, as coming from a wise and most friendly hand. Michel de Montaigne hurtwisehands The beautiful souls are they that are universal, open, and ready for all things. Michel de Montaigne soulbeautifulbeauty The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness. Michel de Montaigne cheerfulcertainhappiness Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee. Michel de Montaigne past-present-futuremindfulnesslive-in-the-moment To begin depriving death of its greatest advantage over us, let us adopt a way clean contrary to that common one; let us deprive death of its strangeness, let us frequent it, let us get used to it; let us have nothing more often in mind than death... We do not know where death awaits us: so let us wait for it everywhere." "To practice death is to practice freedom. A man who has learned how to die has unlearned how to be a slave. Michel de Montaigne practicewaitingmen
