1,152 Quotes by Michel de Montaigne

The same reason that makes us chide and brawl and fall out with any of our neighbors, causeth a war to follow between Princes.

Everyone gives the title of barbarism to everything that is not in use in his own country.

If faces were not alike, we could not distinguish men from beasts; if they were not different, we could not tell one man from another.

And truly Philosophy is but sophisticated poetry. Whence do those ancient writers derive all their authority but from the poets?

An orator of past times declared that his calling was to make small things appear to be grand.

A man must become wise at his own expense.

To call out for the hand of the enemy is a rather extreme measure, yet a better one, I think, than to remain in continual fever over an accident that has no remedy. But since all the precautions that a man can take are full of uneasiness and uncertainty, it is better to prepare with fine assurance for the worst that can happen, and derive some consolation from the fact that we are not sure that it will happen.

We endeavor more that men should speak of us, than how and what they speak, and it sufficeth us that our name run in men's mouths, in what manner soever. It stemma that to be known is in some sort to have life and continuance in other men's keeping.

Persons of mean understandings, not so inquisitive, nor so well instructed, are made good Christians, and by reverence and obedience, implicity believe, and abide by their belief.