We are nearer neighbours to ourselves than whiteness to snow, or weight to stones. Michel de Montaigne More Quotes by Michel de Montaigne More Quotes From Michel de Montaigne O human creature,you are the investigator without knowledge, the magistrate without jurisdiction, and all in all, the fool of the farce. Michel de Montaigne farcefoolarrogance .. since it was true that study, even when done properly, can only teach us what wisdom, right conduct and determination consist in, they wanted to put their children directly in touch with actual cases, teaching them not by hearsay but by actively assaying them, vigorously molding and forming them not merely by word and precept but chiefly by deeds and examples, so that wisdom should not be something which the soul knows but the soul's very essence and temperament, not something acquired but a natural property. Michel de Montaigne educationaldeterminationchildren He whose mouth is out of taste says the wine is flat. Michel de Montaigne winetastemouths Fame and tranquility can never be bedfellows. Michel de Montaigne tranquilityfamequiet The bees pillage the flowers here and there but they make honey of them which is all their own; it is no longer thyme or marjolaine: so the pieces borrowed from others he will transform and mix up into a work all his own. Michel de Montaigne thymehere-and-thereflower An honest man is not accountable for the vice and folly of his trade, and therefore ought not to refuse the exercise of it. It is the custom of his country, and there is profit in it. We must live by the world, and such as we find it, so make use of it. Michel de Montaigne honestyexercisecountry Teach him a certain refinement in sorting out and selecting his arguments, with an affection for relevance and so for brevity. Above all let him be taught to throw down his arms and surrender to truth as soon as he perceives it, whether the truth is born at his rival's doing or within himself from some change in his ideas. Michel de Montaigne words-of-wisdomeducationalideas Human understanding is marvellously enlightened by daily conversation with men, for we are, otherwise, compressed and heaped up in ourselves, and have our sight limited to the length of our own noses. Michel de Montaigne understandingsightmen Decency, not to dare to do that in public which it is decent enough to do in private. Michel de Montaigne decentdareenough It is not a mind, it is not a body that we educate, but it is a man, and we must not make two parts of him. Michel de Montaigne mindmentwo Order a purge for your brain, it will there be much better employed than upon your stomach. Michel de Montaigne stomachbrainorder No man profiteth but by the loss of others. Michel de Montaigne lossmen Amongst so many borrowed things, am glad if I can steal one, disguising and altering it for some new service. Michel de Montaigne plagiarismstealingglad Wisdom is a solid and entire building, of which every piece keeps its place and bears its mark. Michel de Montaigne intelligencepieceswisdom The daughter-in-law of Pythagoras said that a woman who goes to bed with a man ought to lay aside her modesty with her skirt, and put it on again with her petticoat Michel de Montaigne daughterlawmen Every man carries the entire form of human condition. Michel de Montaigne human-conditionformmen For truth itself has not the privilege to be spoken at all times and in all sorts. Michel de Montaigne all-timeprivilege A learned man is not learned in all things; but a sufficient man is sufficient throughout, even to ignorance itself. Michel de Montaigne ignoranceall-thingsmen Every one is well or ill at ease, according as he finds himself! not he whom the world believes, but he who believes himself to be so, is content; and in him alone belief gives itself being and reality Michel de Montaigne givingbelievereality I leaf through books, I do not study them. What I retain of them is something I no longer recognize as anyone else's. Michel de Montaigne learningstudybook
