Michel de Montaigne
Michel de Montaigne
Michel Eyquem de Montaignewas one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance, known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. His work is noted for its merging of casual anecdotes and autobiography with serious intellectual insight; his massive volume Essaiscontains some of the most influential essays ever written. Montaigne had a direct influence on writers all over the world, including Francis Bacon, René Descartes, Blaise Pascal, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Albert Hirschman, William Hazlitt, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Friedrich Nietzsche,...
NationalityFrench
ProfessionPhilosopher
Date of Birth28 February 1533
CountryFrance
We can be knowledgable with other men's knowledge but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.
He who fears he will suffer, already suffers from his fear.
There is no conversation more boring than the one where everybody agrees.
A man must become wise at his own expense.
The most evident token and apparent sign of true wisdom is a constant and unconstrained rejoicing.
Our wisdom and deliberation for the most part follow the lead of chance.
Philosophical discussions habitually make men happy and joyful not frowning and sad.
We can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.
Wisdom is a solid and entire building, of which every piece keeps its place and bears its mark.
The most certain sign of wisdom is continual cheerfulness; her state is like the things above the moon, always clear and serene.
The wise man should withdraw his soul within, out of the crowd, and keep it in freedom and power to judge things freely; but as for externals, he should wholly follow the accepted fashions and forms.
Lay a beam between these two towers of such width as we need to walk on: there is no philosophical wisdom of such great firmness that it can give us courage to walk on it as we should if it were on the ground.
Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!
Only the fools are certain and assured.