Michel de Montaigne Quotes

I have not seen anywhere in the world a more obvious malformed person and miracle than myself. Through use and time we become conditioned to anything strange; but the more I become familiar with and know myself, the more my deformity amazes me and the less I understand myself.

No matter that we may mount on stilts, we still must walk on our own legs. And on the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.

Everyone calls barbarity what he is not accustomed to.

Women are not entirely wrong when they reject the moral rules proclaimed in society, since it is we men alone who have made them.

It is a disaster that wisdom forbids you to be satisfied with yourself and always sends you away dissatisfied and fearful, whereas stubbornness and foolhardiness fill their hosts with joy and assurance.

Men are most apt to believe what they least understand.

We can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.

~The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them ~

Upon the highest throne in the world, we are seated, still, upon our arses.

I will follow the good side right to the fire, but not into it if I can help it.

Profiting little by good examples, I make use of those that are ill, which are everywhere to be found: I endeavor to render myself as agreeable as I see others offensive; as constant as I see others fickle; as affable as I see others rough; as good as I see others evil: but I propose to myself impracticable measures.

I speak to the paper, as I speak to the first person I meet.

When a man is commonplace in discussion yet valued for what he writes that shows that his talents lie in his borrowed sources not in himself.

The greater part of the world's troubles are due to questions of grammar.

Natural inclinations are assisted and reinforced by education, but they are hardly ever altered or overcome.