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Quotes by Montaigne
48 quotations from The Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1896), with the subject each one is filed under.
Few men are admired by their servants.— filed under Admiration
on Whist. When 'I play with my cat, who knows whether I do not make her more sport, than she makes me?— filed under Amusements
Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know.— filed under Belief
Like the watermen who advance forward while they look backward.— filed under Boating
Saturninus said, "Comrades, you have lost a good captain to make him an ill general."— filed under Change
Persons of mean understandings, not so inquisitive, nor so well instructed, are made good Christians, and by reverence and obedience, implicitly believe, and abide by their belief.— filed under Christian
A man must either imitate the vicious or hate them.— filed under Comparisons
The souls of emperors and cobblers are cast in the same mould: * * * The same reason that makes us wrangle with a neighbour causes a war betwixt princes. S.— filed under Comparisons
We are nearer neighbours to ourselves than whiteness to snow, or weight to stones.— filed under Comparisons
Whom conscience, ne'er asleep, Wounds with incessant strokes, not loud, but deep.— filed under Conscience
The laws of conscience, which we pretend to be derived from nature, proceed from custom.— filed under Dancing
Pope's trans. It happens as with cages; the birds without despair to get in, and those within despair of getting out.— filed under Discretion
I believe it to be true that Dreams are the true Interpreters of our Inclinations; but there is Art required to sort and understand them.— filed under Dreams
Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a flea, and yet he will be making gods by dozens.— filed under Bias
He who should teach men to die, would at the same time teach them to live.— filed under Example
(1782.) Vol. IV. Title of Ch. 348. He that had never seen a river imagined the first he met with to be the sea; and the greatest things that have fallen within our knowledge we conclude the extremes that nature makes of the kind.— filed under Extremes
It is not without good reason said, that he who has not a good memory should never take upon him the trade of lying.— filed under Falsehood
The thing in the world I am most afraid of is fear, and with good reason; that passion alone, in the trouble of it, exceeding all other accidents.— filed under Fear
Arts and sciences are not cast in a mould, but are found and perfected by degrees, by often handling and polishing, as bears leisurely lick their cubs into shape.— filed under Guests
One may be humble out of pride.— filed under Humor
A wise man loses nothing, if he but save himself.— filed under Love
If a man should importune me to give a reason why I loved him, I find it could no otherwise be expressed than by making answer, Because it was he; because it was I. There is beyond all that I am able to say, I know not what inexplicable and fated power that brought on this union.— filed under Love
It happens, as with cages, the birds without despair to get in, and those within despair of getting out.— filed under Matrimony
Il se veoid par expérience, que les mémoires excellentes se joignent volontiers aux jugements débiles. Experience teaches that a good memory is generally joined to a weak judgment.— filed under Memory
Let us a little permit Nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we.— filed under Nature
Is it not a noble farce wherein kings, republics, and emperors have for so many ages played their parts, and to which the vast universe serves for a theatre?— filed under Occupations-Acting
Education. There is no man so good, who, were he to submit all his thoughts and actions to the laws, would not deserve hanging ten times in his life. S.— filed under Occupations-Law
Longfellow. "Companions," said he [Saturninus], "you have lost a good captain, to make of him a bad general."— filed under Occupations-Military
Address. March 4, 1801. Even opinion is of force enough to make itself to be espoused at the expense of life.— filed under Opinion
There never was in the world two opinions alike, no more than two hairs, or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity.— filed under Opinion
Amongst so many borrowed things, am glad if I can steal one, disguising and altering it for some new service.— filed under Plagiarism
Grindstones? The publick weal requires that a man should betray, and lye, and massacre.— filed under Policy
La pauvreté des biens est aysee à guerir; la pauvreté de l'âme, impossible. The lack of wealth is easily repaired; but the poverty of the soul is irreparable.— filed under Poverty
My appetite comes to me while eating.— filed under Libanius
No cross, no crown. ST. PAULINUS (Bishop of Nola). No man is a hero to his valet-de-chambre. Attributed to MARSHAL CATINAT. Also to MME. CORNUEL (by Mme. Aisse).— filed under Libanius
I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own but the thread that ties them.— filed under Rain
He that I am reading seems always to have the most force.— filed under Reading
Jerrold's Wit. Reputations. How many worthy men have we seen survive their own reputation!— filed under Reputation
'Tis so much to be a king, that he only is so by being so.— filed under Royalty
I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare; and I dare a little the more as I grow older.— filed under Truth
I find that the best virtue I have has in it some tincture of vice. That we Taste— filed under Virtue
The most manifest sign of wisdom is a continual cheerfulness: her state is like that of things in the regions above the moon, always clear and serene.— filed under Wisdom
Il est bon de frotter et limer notre cervelle contre celle d'autrui. It is good to rub and polish our brain against that of others.— filed under Wisdom
Qui aura esté une fois bien fol ne sera nulle aultre fois bien sage. He who has once been very foolish will at no other time be very wise.— filed under Wisdom
C. And to bring in a new word by the head and shoulders, they leave out the old one.— filed under Words
Peu d'hommes ont esté admirez par leurs domestiques. Few men have been admired by their servants.— filed under Bonaparte
C'est une importune garde, du secret des princes, à qui n'en à que faire. The secret counsels of princes are a troublesome burden to such as have only to execute them.— filed under Counsel
Le bruit des armes l'empeschoit d'entendre la voix des lois. The clatter of arms drowns the voice of the law.— filed under Louis Philippe