Michel de Montaigne Quotes, Thoughts and images

A man who fears suffering is already suffering from what he fears.

Don't be afraid to say what you are not afraid to think

My life has been full of terrible misfortunes most of which never happened.

He who establishes his argument by noise and command shows that his reason is weak.

Lying is a terrible vice, it testifies that one despises God, but fears men.

The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.

The greatest thing in the world is to know how to belong to oneself.

Though we may be learned by another's knowledge, we can never be wise but by our own experience.

Every movement reveals us.

Men are most apt to believe what they least understand.

It is good to rub and polish our brain against that of others.

When I quote others I do so to express my ideas more clearly.

Sometimes it is a good choice not to choose at all.

Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.

Other people do not see you at all, but guess at you by uncertain conjectures.

Men are tormented by the opinions they have of things, and not the things themselves.

Happiness involves working toward meaningful goals.

Honesty is a question of right and wrong, not a matter of policy

All permanent decisions are made in a temporary state of mind.

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself.

Rejoice in the things that are present; all else is beyond thee.

Wise men have more to learn of fools than fools of wise men.

I know well what I am fleeing from but not what I am in search of.

It is not necessity but abundance which produces greed.

I consider myself an average man, except for the fact that I consider myself an average man.

He who does not live in some degree for others, hardly lives for himself.

I do not teach. I relate.

A man is not hurt so much by what happens, as by his opinion of what happens.

Confidence in the goodness of another is good proof of one's goodness.

A man must learn to endure patiently what he cannot avoid conveniently.

We need to interpret interpretations more than to interpret things.

Nothing fixes a thing so intensely in the memory as the wish to forget it.

Only the fools are certain and assured.

The only thing certain is nothing is certain.

There is nothing on which men are commonly more intent than on making a way for their opinions.