Quote

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.

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
Divine
Lightning
Beauty
Flash
Discerns
Doe
Whoever
Sedate
Reason
Firm
Overwhelms
Good
Sees
Persuade
Supreme
Splendor
Rules
Gaze
Poetry
Judgement

More quotes by Michel de Montaigne

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There is no desire more natural than the desire of knowledge. (Il n'est desir plus naturel que le desir de connaissance)
Michel de Montaigne
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We seek and offer ourselves to be gulled.
Michel de Montaigne
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If you have known how to compose your life, you have done a great deal more than the person who knows how to compose a book. You have done more than the one who has taken cities and empires.
Michel de Montaigne
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True it is that she who escapeth safe and unpolluted from out the school of freedom, giveth more confidence of herself than she who comet sound out of the school of severity and restraint.
Michel de Montaigne
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In my opinion, the most fruitful and natural play of the mind is conversation. I find it sweeter than any other action in life and if I were forced to choose, I think I would rather lose my sight than my hearing and voice. The study of books is a drowsy and feeble exercise which does not warm you up.
Michel de Montaigne
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The public weal requires that men should betray, and lie, and massacre.
Michel de Montaigne
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To speak less of oneself than what one really is, is folly, not modesty and to take that for current pay which is under a man's value, is pusillanimity and cowardice.
Michel de Montaigne
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It's not victory if it doesn't end the war.
Michel de Montaigne
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Every day I hear stupid people say things that are not stupid.
Michel de Montaigne
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Is there anything so grave and serious as an ass?
Michel de Montaigne
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Friendship is a creature formed for a companionship not for a herd.
Michel de Montaigne
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The most fruitful and natural exercise for our minds is, in my opinion, conversation.
Michel de Montaigne
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To distract myself from tiresome thoughts, I have only to resort to books they easily draw my mind to themselves and away from other things.
Michel de Montaigne
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Excellent memories are often coupled with feeble judgments.
Michel de Montaigne
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It is far more probable that our senses should deceive us, than that an old woman should be carried up a chimney on a broom stick and that it is far less astonishing that witnesses should lie, than that witches should perform the acts that were alleged.
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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If ordinary people complain that I speak too much of myself, I complain that they do not even think of themselves.
Michel de Montaigne
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We trouble our life by thoughts about death, and our death by thoughts about life.
Michel de Montaigne
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No spiritual mind remains within itself it is always aspiring and going beyond its own strength.
Michel de Montaigne
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A well-bred man is always sociable and complaisant.
Michel de Montaigne