Quotes About Montaigne

From fame to infamy is a beaten road. —FRANCIS QUARLES All the world doth practice stage-playing. —MONTAIGNE

I fear only that which I love, says man, according to Montaigne. Woman replies: I love only that which I fear.

The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.

vi si trova, lampeggiante nelle tenebre di allora e di oggi, allora di incredibile azzardo ma lasciata cadere con incredibile e adorabile noncuranza, la frase che io considero del più sublime laicismo: "Dopotutto, è un mettere le proprie congetture a ben alto prezzo, il volere, per esse, fare arrostire vivo un uomo". Quell'impagabile "dopotutto", quel ridurre a "congetture" tutte le fanatiche e potenti certezze! (su un passo degli Essais di Montaigne)

La guerra di quelle che Montaigne chiamava congetture infuriava, la Francia ne era insanguinata. La congettura cattolica, la congettura protestante. Come Pessoa nella poesia sul Natale, Montaigne pensava che la verità né veniva né se ne andava: semplicemente mutava l'errore, mutavano gli errori.

Michel de Montaigne, a highly-educated French nobleman who retired from public duties and retreated to his family's castle around 1570 to focus on his writing, is

I conceive that pleasures are to be avoided if greater pains be the consequence, and pains to be coveted that will terminate in greater pleasures.

on questioning why she looked so sad, she would remark, 'My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.' 'That's Montaigne, isn't it?' And she would give the tiniest nod. 'I quote others only in order the better to express myself,' she'd say, which was itself, I sensed, another quote.

She would see, for instance, her mother touch my hand and say, 'If there is such a thing as good marriage, it is because it resembles friendship rather than love.' Or, on questioning why she looked so sad, she would remark, 'My life has been full of terrible misfortunes, most of which never happened.' 'That's Montaigne, isn't it?

You know, the age thing. I have generally found men to be quite a disappointment. Montaigne said that the point of life is to give yourself to yourself.

As by some might be saide of me: that here I have but gathered a nosegay of strange floures, and have put nothing of mine unto it, but the thred to binde them. Certes, I have given unto publike opinion, that these borrowed ornaments accompany me; but I meane not they should cover or hide me...

The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness.

Michel Eyquem de Montaigne