There is perhaps no more obvious vanity than to write of it so vainly. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE MoreObviousPerhapsVanityWrite
Wit is a dangerous weapon, even to the possessor, if he knows not how to use it discreetly. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE DangerousDiscreetlyKnowPossessorUseWeapon
If you press me to say why I loved him, I can say no more than because he was he, and I was I. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE Because WasCanLoveMorePressSayWhy
I do not speak the minds of others except to speak my own mind better. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE BetterExceptMindOtherOwnSpeak
There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE EntireFamilyGovernmentManageMuchPrivateStateVexation
The confidence in another man’s virtue is no light evidence of a man’s own, and God willingly favors such a confidence. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE AnotherConfidenceConfidentEvidenceFavorGodManOwnSuchVirtueWilling
I write to keep from going mad from the contradictions I find among mankind – and to work some of those contradictions out for myself. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE ContradictionGoKeepMadMankindMyselfSomeWorkWrite
Covetousness is both the beginning and the end of the devil’s alphabet – the first vice in corrupt nature that moves, and the last which dies. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE AlphabetBeginBothCorruptCovetousnessDieLastNatureVice
It is a sign of contraction of the mind when it is content, or of weariness. A spirited mind never stops within itself; it is always aspiring and going beyond its strength. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE ContentContractorMindSignWeariness
In true education, anything that comes to our hand is as good as a book. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE AnythingBookEducationGoodHandTrue
There is little less trouble in governing a private family than a whole kingdom. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE FamilyGovernKingdomLessLittlePrivateTroubleWhole
Ignorance is the softest pillow on which a man can rest his head. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE HeadIgnoranceManPillowRestSoften
I know well what I am fleeing from but not what I am in search of. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE FleeFromKnowNotSearchWell
When I play with my cat, who knows whether she is not amusing herself with me more than I with her. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE AmuseCatHerHerselfKnowMorePlayWhether
How many condemnations I have witnessed more criminal than the crime! MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE CondemnationCrimeCriminalMoreThanWitness
I do myself a greater injury in lying than I do him of whom I tell a lie. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE GreatHimInjuryLieMyselfSoTellTryWhom
He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE ArgumentCommandEstablishNoiseReasonShowWeak
For truly it is to be noted, that children’s plays are not sports, and should be deemed as their most serious actions. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE ActionChildrenDeemMostNoteSeriousSportTruly
Confidence in the goodness of another is good proof of one’s own goodness. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE AnotherConfidenceGodGoodnessHoodProof
Unless a man feels he has a good enough memory, he should never venture to lie. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE EnoughFeelGoodManMemoryneverShouldUnlessVenture
He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE AlreadyFearShallSuffer
Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE BeyondElsePresentRejoiceTheeThing
The ceaseless labour of your life is to build the house of death. MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE BuildCeaselessDeathHouseLabourLife
