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We are nearer neighbors to ourselves than the whiteness of snow or the weight of stones are to us: if man does not know himself, how should he know his functions and powers?

Michel de Montaigne

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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
Stones
Function
Whiteness
Weight
Nearer
Doe
Functions
Men
Neighbors
Powers
Snow
Neighbor

More quotes by Michel de Montaigne

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There is nothing on which men are commonly more intent than on making a way for their opinions.
Michel de Montaigne
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There is a certain consideration, and a general duty of humanity, that binds us not only to the animals, which have life and feeling, but even to the trees and plants. We owe justice to people, and kindness and benevolence to all other creatures who may be susceptible of it. There is some intercourse between them and us, and some mutual obligation.
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We have so much ill fortune as inconstancy, or so much bad purpose as folly, we are not so full of evil as we are of inanity we are not so wretched as we are base
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The beautiful souls are they that are universal, open, and ready for all things.
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Why dost thou complain of this world? It detains thee not thy own cowardice is the cause, if thou livest in pain.
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Teach him a certain refinement in sorting out and selecting his arguments, with an affection for relevance and so for brevity. Above all let him be taught to throw down his arms and surrender to truth as soon as he perceives it, whether the truth is born at his rival's doing or within himself from some change in his ideas.
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He whose mouth is out of taste says the wine is flat.
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A liar would be brave toward God, while he is a coward toward men for a lie faces God, and shrinks from man.
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I see men ordinarily more eager to discover a reason for things than to find out whether the things are so.
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A lady could not boast of her chastity who was never tempted.
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It costs an unreasonable woman no more to pass over one reason than another they cherish themselves most where they are most wrong.
Michel de Montaigne
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The plague of man is the opinion of knowledge. That is why ignorance is so recommended by our religion as a quality suitable to belief and obedience.
Michel de Montaigne
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Is it not enough to make me come back to life out of spite, to have someone who spat in my face while I existed come and rub my feet when I am beginning to exist no longer?
Michel de Montaigne
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There is little less trouble in governing a private family than a whole kingdom.
Michel de Montaigne
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Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know.
Michel de Montaigne
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It is fear that I stand most in fear of, in sharpness it exceeds every other feeling.
Michel de Montaigne
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I put forward formless and unresolved notions, as do those who publish doubtful questions to debate in the schools, not to establish the truth but to seek it.
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Love to his soul gave eyes he knew things are not as they seem. The dream is his real life the world around him is the dream.
Michel de Montaigne
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Excellent memories are often coupled with feeble judgments.
Michel de Montaigne
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Vexations may be petty, but they are vexations still.
Michel de Montaigne