Michel de Montaigne
Michel de Montaigne
Michel Eyquem de Montaignewas one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance, known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. His work is noted for its merging of casual anecdotes and autobiography with serious intellectual insight; his massive volume Essaiscontains some of the most influential essays ever written. Montaigne had a direct influence on writers all over the world, including Francis Bacon, René Descartes, Blaise Pascal, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Albert Hirschman, William Hazlitt, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Friedrich Nietzsche,...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth28 February 1533
CountryFrance
Michel de Montaigne quotes about
Obstinacy is the sister of constancy, at least in vigor and stability.
The only thing certain is nothing is certain.
Satiety comes of too frequent repetition and he who will not give himself leisure to be thirsty can never find the true pleasure of drinking
Ceremony forbids us to express by words things that are lawful and natural, and we obey it; reason forbids us to do things unlawful and ill, and nobody obeys it.
All general judgments are loose and imperfect
There is little less trouble in governing a private family than a whole kingdom.
There is a sort of gratification in doing good which makes us rejoice in ourselves.
Age imprints more wrinkles in the mind than it does on the face.
There is no more expensive thing than a free gift.
Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee.
You have your face bare; I am all face.
A good marriage (if any there be) refuses the conditions of love and endeavors to present those of amity.
To make judgements about great and lofty things, a soul of the same stature is needed; otherwise we ascribe to them that vice which is our own.
A speech belongs half to the speaker and half to the listener.