Michel de Montaigne
Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was a sceptico-speculative thinker and moralist, born in the Château of Montaigne, Périgord. He was an easy-going mortal, but a keen observer of the ways and manners of other people, which some experience in travel gave him opportunities to do, as well as the study of the old classic Latin authors. His fame rests on his "Essays," in which he records his observations of mankind, but in which, from a decided descendental twist he had, he betrays a rather low idea of the morale of the race. The book, however, is a favourite with all observant people of education, and a translation of it by Florio is the one book we know for certain to have been in the library of Shakespeare. Bred as he was by his father's arrangement among the common people, he always retained a friendly feeling towards his neighbours, and they cherished towards him feelings of very high regard. He was a quiet, tolerant man, and his writings reveal a character which commands the respect of men who affect a much higher level of thinking than that occupied by himself.Wisdom & Quotes
- When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me more than I with her.
- I want death to find me planting my cabbages.
- There are defeats more triumphant than victories.
- Dreams are the true interpreters of you inclinations; but there is art required to sort and understand them.
- The thing I fear most is fear.
- Those who have compared life to a dream were right… We sleep when we are awake, and awake when sleeping.
- The value of life lies not in the length of days, but in the use we make of them; a man may life long yet life very little.
- To know how to live is my trade and my art.
- Unless a man feels he has a good enough memory, he should never venture to lie.
- It ( marriage ) is like a cage; one sees the birds outside desperate to get in, and those inside desperate to get out.
- Maturity hath her defects, as well as greenness, or worse.
- The daughter-in-law of Pythagoras said that a woman who goes to bed with a man ought to lay aside her modesty with her skirt, and put it on again with her petticoat.
- The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.
- To philosophize is to doubt.
- Wonder is the foundation of all philosophy, inquiry the process, ignorance the end.
- There are few men who would dare publish to the world the prayers they make to almighty God.
- Saying is one thing and doing is another.
- Science without conscience is but the death of the soul.
- If by being overstudious, we impair our health and spoil our good humour, let us give it up.
- Que sais-je? ( What do I know?)
- Many a man has been a wonder to the world, whose wife and valet have seen nothing in him that was even remarkable. Few men have been admired by their servants.
Elizabeth I