Quote

Difficulty is a coin the learned make use of like jugglers, to conceal the inanity of their art.

Michel de Montaigne

Change background

T
T
T

Change font

TAGS & TOPICS

Michel de Montaigne
Age: 59 †
Born: 1533
Born: February 28
Died: 1592
Died: September 13
Autobiographer
Essayist
French Moralist
Jurist
Philosopher
Poet Lawyer
Politician
Translator
Writer
Michel Eyquem de Montaigne
Miquèu Eiquèm de Montanha
Miqueu Eiquem de Montanha
Make
Conceal
Like
Coin
Scholarship
Coins
Difficulty
Learned
Use
Inanity
Art
Jugglers

More quotes by Michel de Montaigne

Image
If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world to contradict any person who described me other than I was, although he did it to honour me.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
The clatter of arms drowns out the voice of law.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
God defend me from myself.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
The pleasure we hold in esteem for the course of our lives ought to have a greater share of our time dedicated to it we should refuse no occasion nor omit any opportunity of drinking, and always have it in our minds.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
We took advantage of [the Indians'] ignorance and inexperience to incline them the more easily toward treachery, lewdness, avarice, and every sort of inhumanity and cruelty, after the example and pattern of our ways.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
Life in itself is neither good nor evil, it is the place of good and evil, according to what you make it.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
A straight oar looks bent in the water. It matters not merely that we see a thing, but how we see it.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
If I were a maker of books I should compile a register, with comments, of different deaths. He who should teach people to die, would teach them to live.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
So it is with minds. Unless you keep them busy with some definite subject that will bridle and control them, they throw themselves in disorder hither and yon in the vague field of imagination... And there is no mad or idle fancy that they do not bring forth in the agitation.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
Men are tormented by the opinions they have of things, and not the things themselves.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
I have ever loved to repose myself, whether sitting or lying, with my heels as high or higher than my head.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
I am disgusted with innovation, in whatever guise, and with reason, for I have seen very harmful effects of it.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
He that I am reading seems always to have the most force.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
It has never occurred to me to wish for empire or royalty, nor for the eminence of those high and commanding fortunes. My aim lies not in that direction I love myself too well.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
Some, either from being glued to vice by a natural attachment, or from long habit, no longer recognize its ugliness.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
Men ... are not agreed about any one thing, not even that heaven is over our heads.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
Reason has so many forms that we do not know which to choose-Experiment has no fewer.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
All the opinions in the world point out that pleasure is our aim.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
A woman is no sooner ours than we are no longer hers.
Michel de Montaigne
Image
Why dost thou complain of this world? It detains thee not thy own cowardice is the cause, if thou livest in pain.
Michel de Montaigne