Michel de Montaigne Quotes

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

Every man has within himself the entire human condition

The most fruitful and natural exercise for our minds is, in my opinion, conversation.

I do not believe, from what I have been told about this people, that there is anything barbarous or savage about them, except that we all call barbarous anything that is contrary to our own habits.

If I am pressed to say why I loved him, I feel it can only be explained by replying: 'Because it was he; because it was me.

Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest his head

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself

When I dance, I dance; when I sleep, I sleep; yes, and when I walk alone in a beautiful orchard, if my thoughts drift to far-off matters for some part of the time for some other part I lead them back again to the walk, the orchard, to the sweetness of this solitude, to myself.

Every movement reveals us.

[Marriage] happens as with cages: the birds without despair to get in, and those within despair of getting out.

No wind favors he who has no destined port.

Kings and philosophers shit — and so do ladies.

There is no knowledge so hard to acquire as the knowledge of how to live this life well and naturally.

I have never seen a greater monster or miracle than myself.

I know that the arms of friendship are long enough to reach from the one end of the world to the other