The study of books is a drowsy and feeble exercise which does not warm you up. Michel de Montaigne More Quotes by Michel de Montaigne More Quotes From Michel de Montaigne To distract myself from tiresome thoughts, I have only to resort to books; they easily draw my mind to themselves and away from other things. Michel de Montaigne resortsmindbook Covetousness is both the beginning and the end of the devil's alphabet - the first vice in corrupt nature that moves, and the last which dies. Michel de Montaigne devilvicesmoving It is a sign of contraction of the mind when it is content, or of weariness. A spirited mind never stops within itself; it is always aspiring and going beyond its strength. Michel de Montaigne contractionsspiritedmind It is not reasonable that art should win the place of honor over our great and powerful mother Nature. We have so overloaded the beauty and richness of her works by our inventions that we have quite smothered her. Michel de Montaigne powerfulmotherart The thing in the world I am most afraid of is fear, and with good reason; that passion alone, in the trouble of it, exceeding all other accidents Michel de Montaigne passionfearworld Age imprints more wrinkles a in the mind, than it does in the face, and souls are never, or very rarely seen, that in growing old do not smell sour and musty. Man moves all together, both towards his perfection and decay. Michel de Montaigne smellmenmoving Of the opinions of philosophy I most gladly embrace those that are most solid, that is to say, most human and most our own; my opinions, in conformity with my conduct, are low and humble. Michel de Montaigne philosophicalhumblephilosophy To honor him whom we have made is far from honoring him that hath made us. Michel de Montaigne honorgodreligion I would have every man write what he knows and no more. Michel de Montaigne knowswritingmen What kind of truth is this which is true on one side of a mountain and false on the other? Michel de Montaigne mountainkindsides Let us permit nature to have her way. She understands her business better than we do. Michel de Montaigne earth-daynaturerivers Amongst all other vices there is none I hate more than cruelty, both by nature and judgment, as the extremest of all vices. Michel de Montaigne judgmenthatevices We are never present with, but always beyond ourselves; fear, desire, hope, still push us on toward the future. Michel de Montaigne pessimismoptimismdesire We perceive no charms that are not sharpened, puffed out, and inflated by artifice. Those which glide along naturally and simply easily escape a sight so gross as ours. Michel de Montaigne charmhuman-naturesight Most of our occupations are low comedy.... We must play our part duly, but as the part of a borrowed character. Of the mask and appearance we must not make a real essence, nor of what is foreign what is our very own. Michel de Montaigne realessencecharacter He that is a friend to himself, know; he is a friend to all. Michel de Montaigne knows Whoever will be cured of ignorance, let him confess it. Michel de Montaigne ignorance It is an absolute perfection and virtually divine to know how to enjoy our being rightfully. Michel de Montaigne enjoydivineperfection Why did I love her? Because it was her; because it was me. Michel de Montaigne heartlove Obstinacy and dogmatism are the surest signs of stupidity. Is there anything more confident, resolute, disdainful, grave and serious than an ass? Michel de Montaigne assstupidityserious
