Michel de Montaigne (1533 – 1592)
Influential French Renaissance writer, generally considered to be the inventor of the personal essay.
As far as physicians go, chance is more valuable than knowledge.
Ceux qui ont apparié notre vie ? un songe ont eu de la raison...Nous veillons dormants et veillants dormons.
The hedonistic approach to education did make a difference to him. Having been guided early in life by his own curiosity alone, he grew up to be an independent-minded adult, following his own path in everything rather than deferring to duty and discipline.
Even from their infancy we frame them to the sports of love: their instruction, behavior, attire, grace, learning and all their words azimuth only at love, respects only affection. Their nurses and their keepers imprint no other thing in them.
Montaigne the I-sayer. “I” as space, not as position.
I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly.
Confidence in another man's virtue is no light evidence of a man's own, and God willingly favors such a confidence.
Virtue refuses facility for her companion ... the easy, gentle, and sloping path that guides the footsteps of a good natural disposition is not the path of true virtue. It demands a rough and thorny road.
We can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.
All of the days go toward death and the last one arrives there.
For truth itself does not have the privilege to be employed at any time and in every way; its use, noble as it is, has its circumscriptions and limits.
There is a sort of gratification in doing good which makes us rejoice in ourselves.
Fame and tranquility can never be bedfellows.
The way of the world is to make laws, but follow custom.
It is more of a job to interpret the interpretations than to interpret the things, and there are more books about books than about any other subject: we do nothing but write glosses about each other.
Courtesy is a science of the highest importance. It is, like grace and beauty in the body, which charm at first sight, and lead on to further intimacy and friendship, opening a door that we may derive instruction from the example of others, and at the same time enabling us to benefit them by our example, if there be anything in our character worthy of imitation.
There were never in the world two opinions alike, any more than two hairs or two grains. Their most universal quality is diversity.
Quand je me joue ? ma chatte, qui sçait si elle passe son temps de moy plus que je ne fay d'elle?
Since I would rather make of him an able man than a learned man, I would also urge that care be taken to choose a guide with a well-made rather than a well-filled head.
Labour not after riches first, and think thou afterwards wilt enjoy them. He who neglecteth the present moment, throweth away all that he hath. As the arrow passeth through the heart, while the warrior knew not that it was coming; so shall his life be taken away before he knoweth that he hath it.