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And truly Philosophy is but sophisticated poetry. Whence do those ancient writers derive all their authority but from the poets?

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
Poet
Whence
Truly
Derive
Poetry
Sophisticated
Philosophy
Poets
Philosophical
Ancient
Writers
Authority

More quotes by Michel de Montaigne

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To compose our character is our duty, not to compose books, and to win, not battles and provinces, but order and tranquillity in our conduct.
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Saying is one thing and doing is another
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Rash and incessant scolding runs into custom and renders itself despised.
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It is commonly seene by experience, that excellent memories do rather accompany weake judgements.
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Great authors, when they write about causes, adduce not only those they think are true but also those they do not believe in, provided they have some originality and beauty. They speak truly and usefully enough if they speak ingeniously.
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He who fears he will suffer, already suffers from his fear.
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If I speak of myself in different ways, that is because I look at myself in different ways.
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A little of everything and nothing thoroughly, after the French fashion.
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A volunteer, you assign yourself specific roles and risks according to your judgement of their brilliance and importance, and you see when life itself may be justifiably devoted to them.
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The body enjoys a great share in our being, and has an eminent place in it. Its structure and composition, therefore, are worthy of proper consideration.
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Necessity is a violent school-mistress.
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The most fruitful and natural exercise for our minds is, in my opinion, conversation.
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Time steals away without any inconvenience.
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We have power over nothing except our will.
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The worth of the mind consisteth not in going high, but in marching orderly.
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He that I am reading seems always to have the most force.
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The middle sort of historians (of which the most part are) spoil all they will chew our meat for us.
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The only good histories are those written by those who had command in the events they describe.
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I am disgusted with innovation, in whatever guise, and with reason, for I have seen very harmful effects of it.
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Painting myself for others, I have painted my inward self with colors clearer than my original ones. I have no more made my book than my book has made me--a book consubstantial with its author, concerned with my own self, an integral part of my life not concerned with some third-hand, extraneous purpose, like all other books.
Michel de Montaigne