Whatever is enforced by command is more imputed to him who exacts than to him who performs. Michel de Montaigne More Quotes by Michel de Montaigne More Quotes From Michel de Montaigne Tis well for old age that it is always accompanied with want of perception, ignorance, and a facility of being deceived. For should we see how we are used and would not acquiesce, what would become of us? Michel de Montaigne perceptionignoranceage Pride dwells in the thought; the tongue can have but a very little share in it. Michel de Montaigne tonguepridelittles A father is very miserable who has no other hold on his children's affection than the need they have of his assistance, if that can be called affection. Michel de Montaigne parentfatherchildren All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate. Michel de Montaigne moderatespassionsuffering No man divulges his revenue, or at least which way it comes in: but every one publishes his acquisitions. Michel de Montaigne acquisitionmenway Ceremony forbids us to express by words things that are lawful and natural, and we obey it; reason forbids us to do things unlawful and ill, and nobody obeys it. Michel de Montaigne unlawfulnaturalreason To smell, though well, is to stink. Michel de Montaigne perfumestinksmell Praise is always pleasing, let it come from whom, or upon what account it will. Michel de Montaigne accountspraise I have never observed other effects of whipping than to render boys more cowardly, or more willfully obstinate. Michel de Montaigne whippingpunishmentboys Some, either from being glued to vice by a natural attachment, or from long habit, no longer recognize its ugliness. Michel de Montaigne attachmentviceslong We are nearer neighbors to ourselves than the whiteness of snow or the weight of stones are to us: if man does not know himself, how should he know his functions and powers? Michel de Montaigne doesnowmen I am disgusted with innovation, in whatever guise, and with reason, for I have seen very harmful effects of it. Michel de Montaigne innovationdangerreason Vice leaves repentance in the soul, like an ulcer in the flesh, which is always scratching and lacerating itself; for reason effaces all other griefs and sorrows, but it begets that of repentance. Michel de Montaigne sorrowgriefsoul Our own peculiar human condition is that we are as fit to be laughed at as able to laugh. Michel de Montaigne laughterpeculiarlaughing The most beautiful lives, to my mind, are those that conform to the common human pattern, with order, but without miracle and without eccentricity. Michel de Montaigne miraclebeautifulorder There is nothing so noble and so right as to play our human life well and fitly, nor anything so difficult to learn as how to livethis life well and according to Nature. Michel de Montaigne human-naturenobleplay We do not correct the man we hang; we correct others by him. Michel de Montaigne punishmenthe-manmen We have more poets than judges and interpreters of poetry. It is easier to write an indifferent poem than to understand a good one. There is, indeed, a certain low and moderate sort of poetry, that a man may well enough judge by certain rules of art; but the true, supreme, and divine poesy is equally above all rules and reason. And whoever discerns the beauty of it with the most assured and most steady sight sees no more than the quick reflection of a flash of lightning. Michel de Montaigne reflectionwritingart Men are tormented by the opinions they have of things, and not the things themselves. Michel de Montaigne opinionmen Experience stands on its own dunghill in medicine, and reason yields it place. Medicine has always professed experience to be the touchstone of its operations. Michel de Montaigne yieldmedicinereason
