Michel de Montaigne Quotes

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

The only thing certain is nothing is certain.

Only the fools are certain and assured.

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

We need to interpret interpretations more than to interpret things.

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

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

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

I do not teach. I relate.

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

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

It is not necessity but abundance which produces greed.

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

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

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

Not being able to govern events, I govern myself.

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

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

Happiness involves working toward meaningful goals.

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

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

Lend yourself to others, but give yourself to yourself.

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

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

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

Men are most apt to believe what they least understand.

Every movement reveals us.

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

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

The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.

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

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

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

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

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