Inspirational Quotations

Inspirational Quotes by Michel de Montaigne (French Essayist)

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne (1533–92) was a French essayist. Regarded as the creator and one of the great masters of the essay form, Montaigne wrote about important personalities and ideas of his age in his Skeptical Essais (1572–80, 1588; Essays, 1603.)

Born into a family of wealthy merchants near Bordeaux, Montaigne spoke no language but Latin until he was six. He studied law and served as a magistrate and mayor of Bordeaux, and engaged in diplomacy during the French religious civil wars.

In 1570, Montaigne renounced his civic responsibilities to devote himself to the administration of his estate and to write. He called his short works ‘essais,’ or ‘attempts’—they deal with an eclectic range of themes. Even though he never considered himself a philosopher, he is now seen as one of the most outstanding Sceptical thinkers of early modern Europe; his philosophical standpoint was broadly an argument for introspection.

Montaigne published three books of essays; a fourth appeared posthumously in 1595. His approachable style, intelligence, and subtle thought have made him one of the most widely admired writers of the Renaissance. His essays greatly influenced French and English literature.

More: Wikipedia • READ: Works by Michel de Montaigne

A man should ever be ready booted to take his journey.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Tourism, Journeys, Travel

Habit is second nature.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Habits, Habit

The finest lives in my opinion are the common model, without miracle and without extravagance.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Life

Lying is a terrible vice, it testifies that one despises God, but fears men.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Lies, Deception/Lying

A wise man never loses anything if he have himself.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Self-Discovery

Diogenes was asked what wine he liked best, and he answered, “Somebody else’s”.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Reality, Opportunities

The worth of the mind consisteth not in going high, but in marching orderly.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Mind

I walk firmer and more secure up hill than down.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Adversity, Difficulties

Every abridgement of a good book is a fool abridged.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Reading, Books

There is no course of life so weak and Scottish as that which is ordered by orders, method, and discipline.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Order

I quote others in order to better express myself.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Quotations

The clearest sign of wisdom is continued cheerfulness.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Happiness, Cheerfulness

‘Tis an absolute and, as it were, divine perfection for man to know how to fully realize his nature.
—Michel de Montaigne

We should not ask who is the most learned, but who is the best learned.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Learning

I do not speak the minds of others except to speak my own mind better.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Quotations

No wind favors him who has no destined port.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Destiny, Goals

I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare; and I dare a little the more, as I grow older.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Boldness

The soul which has no fixed purpose in life is lost; to be everywhere, is to be nowhere.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Purpose

It is commonly seen by experience that excellent memories do often accompany weak judgements.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Judgment, Memories, Judges, Judging

The public weal requires that men should betray, and lie, and massacre.
—Michel de Montaigne

I quote others only the better to express myself.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Quotations

Socrates thought and so do I that the wisest theory about the gods is no theory at all.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Assumptions, Theory

A well bred man is always sociable and complaisant.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Manners

I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Reason

Who does not in some sort live to others, does not live much to himself.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Lies, Lying, Deception/Lying

Philosophy is doubt.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Philosophy, Science

Ambition is not a vice of little people.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Ambition

People give the name of zeal to their propensity to mischief and violence, though it is not the cause, but their interest that inflames them.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Zeal

It is only reasonable to allow the administration of affairs to mothers before their children reach the age prescribed by law at which they themselves can be responsible. But that father would have reared them ill who could not hope that in their maturity they would have more wisdom and competence than his wife.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Family

The great thing in the world is to know how to be sufficient unto oneself.
—Michel de Montaigne
Topics: Hedonism, Being Ourselves, Self-Pity, Self-Discovery

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