Michel de Montaigne Quotes

A man of understanding has lost nothing, if he has himself.

Don't discuss yourself, for you are bound to lose; if you belittle yourself, you are believed; if you praise yourself, you are disbelieved.

Each man calls barbarism what is not his own practice for indeed it seems we have no other test of truth and reason that the example and pattern of the opinions and customs of the country we live in.

Even on the most exalted throne in the world we are only sitting on our own bottom.

Fashion is the science of appearances, and it inspires one with the desire to seem rather than to be.

He who establishes his argument by noise and command, shows that his reason is weak.

He who is not very strong in memory should not meddle with lying.

I care not so much what I am to others as what I am to myself.

I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly.

No man is exempt from saying silly things; the mischief is to say them deliberately.

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself.

Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it.

So it is with minds. Unless you keep them busy with some definite subject that will bridle and control them, they throw themselves in disorder hither and yon in the vague field of imagination... And there is no mad or idle fancy that they do not bring forth in the agitation.

The art of dining well is no slight art, the pleasure not a slight pleasure.

The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.

The most profound joy has more of gravity than of gaiety in it.

There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.

When I am attacked by gloomy thoughts, nothing helps me so much as running to my books. They quickly absorb me and banish the clouds from my mind.

Even on the highest throne in the world, we are still sitting on our ass.

I will follow the right side even to the fire, but excluding the fire if I can.