Quote

The first distinction among men, and the first consideration that gave one precedence over another, was doubtless the advantage of beauty.

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
Gave
Among
Beauty
Another
Doubtless
Firsts
Precedence
First
Consideration
Men
Distinction
Advantage

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For there is no air that men so greedily draw in, that diffuses itself so soon, and that penetrates so deep as that of license.
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If my mind could gain a firm footing, I would not make essays, I would make decisions but it is always in apprenticeship and on trial.
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There is a certain amount of purpose, acquiescence, and satisfaction in nursing one's melancholy.
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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.
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Words repeated again have as another sound, so another sense.
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The good, supreme, divine poetry is above the rules and reason. Whoever discerns its beauty with a firm, sedate gaze does not see it, any more than he sees the splendor of a lightning flash. It does not persuade our judgement, it ravishes and overwhelms it.
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Persons of mean understandings, not so inquisitive, nor so well instructed, are made good Christians, and by reverence and obedience, implicity believe, and abide by their belief.
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There is nothing on which men are commonly more intent than on making a way for their opinions.
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A man has need of tough ears to hear himself fairly judged.
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I had rather complain of ill-fortune than be ashamed of victory.
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A man should ever, as much as in him lieth, be ready booted to take his journey, and above all things look he have then nothing to do but with himself.
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There is a sort of gratification in doing good which makes us rejoice in ourselves.
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Have you been able to think out and manage your own life? You have done the greatest task of all.... All other things, ruling, hoarding, building, are only little appendages and props, at most.
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Every man bears the whole stamp of the human condition.
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The finest lives in my opinion are the common model, without miracle and without extravagance.
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Obsession is the wellspring of genius and madness.
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Judgement holds in me a magisterial seat, at least it carefully tries to. It lets my feelings go their way, both hatred and friendship, even the friendship I bear myself, without being changed and corrupted by them.
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To smell, though well, is to stink.
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Philosophical discussions habitually make men happy and joyful not frowning and sad.
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Human understanding is marvellously enlightened by daily conversation with men, for we are, otherwise, compressed and heaped up in ourselves, and have our sight limited to the length of our own noses.
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