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
I have never seen a greater monster or miracle in the world than myself.
I speak the truth not so much as I would, but as much as I dare, and I dare a little more as I grow older.
Vexations may be petty, but they are vexations still.
I turn my gaze inward. I fix it there and keep it busy. I look inside myself. I continually observe myself.
There are few things on which we can pass a sincere judgement, because there are few things in which we have not, in one way or another, a particular interest.
Since we cannot attain unto it, let us revenge ourselves with railing against it.
The bitterness of the potion, and the abhorrence of the patient are necessary circumstances to the operation. It must be something to trouble and disturb the stomach that must purge and cure it.
Life in itself is neither good nor evil, it is the place of good and evil, according to what you make it.
The only thing certain is nothing is certain.
All general judgments are loose and imperfect
There is a sort of gratification in doing good which makes us rejoice in ourselves.
Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee.
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.