Montaigne. Wikimedia Commons
Montaigne's Essays
Book I
Michel de Montaigne, a French wise man who lived from 1533 to1592, has written a work named “Essays” in which he collects thoughts he has worked with throughout his life. These thoughts are as valid today as they were then, and I wish to share in brief form those that I have noted when reading his work. The thoughts you find here are collected from his Book I.
1) What causes are we inventing for those mishaps that strike us? What are we blaming, rightfully or wrongfully?
2) The virtuous and wise man knows that the real victory is that which you win without taking leave of loyalty or honor.
3) Nobody should profit from the ignorance of others.
4) I will take care, if I can, that my death does not speak differently than my life has done in the first instance.
5) The soul that has no clear aim will lose itself; as it is said, it is to be nowhere when you are everywhere.
6) He who does not have a good memory should not try to be a liar.
7) It seems to be the habit of the mind to be quick and sudden, and the habit of judgment to be slow and solid.
8) It is not useful to know the future. It is unfortunate to torment yourself to no use. (Cicero, quoted by Montaigne.)
9) The game of consistency and stability is played by carrying patiently the inconveniences that cannot be remedied.
10) Would it be cowardly to beat the enemy by letting him pass? (Socrates, quoted by Montaigne.) The Persian emperor Darius criticized the Scythians for always receding from him, thus avoiding confrontation. To this, Indathyrses – their king – replied that it was not because of fear of him, nor any living man, but that this was the way of his nation - having no cultivated land, no city, no house to defend, nor fear that the enemy could profit from entering their land. But if Darius was so eager to fight, he could try to approach their ancient tombs, and then he would find his opponent.
11) I have often seen people being impolite by too much politeness, and embarrassing by their courtesy.
12) If what we call hurting and torment are neither hurting nor torment in themselves, but only in our imagination, it is in our power to change them.
13) While some await death with trembling and fear, others meet it with more ease than life.
14) Happy is he who is adjusting his needs in a way that his riches can handle without him having to think or worry about it.
15) Courage has its limits, like the other virtues, which, when surpassed lead us into the train of vices, as you can slide into temerity, obstination or folly.
16) In truth, it is reasonable to make a big difference between errors that come from our weaknesses, and those that come from our malice.
17) In order to always learn something from communication with others, always lead them into subjects that they know best.
18) It happens most often that people themselves choose to talk about other people’s occupations, considering that in that way they will add to their reputation.
1) What causes are we inventing for those mishaps that strike us? What are we blaming, rightfully or wrongfully?
2) The virtuous and wise man knows that the real victory is that which you win without taking leave of loyalty or honor.
3) Nobody should profit from the ignorance of others.
4) I will take care, if I can, that my death does not speak differently than my life has done in the first instance.
5) The soul that has no clear aim will lose itself; as it is said, it is to be nowhere when you are everywhere.
6) He who does not have a good memory should not try to be a liar.
7) It seems to be the habit of the mind to be quick and sudden, and the habit of judgment to be slow and solid.
8) It is not useful to know the future. It is unfortunate to torment yourself to no use. (Cicero, quoted by Montaigne.)
9) The game of consistency and stability is played by carrying patiently the inconveniences that cannot be remedied.
10) Would it be cowardly to beat the enemy by letting him pass? (Socrates, quoted by Montaigne.) The Persian emperor Darius criticized the Scythians for always receding from him, thus avoiding confrontation. To this, Indathyrses – their king – replied that it was not because of fear of him, nor any living man, but that this was the way of his nation - having no cultivated land, no city, no house to defend, nor fear that the enemy could profit from entering their land. But if Darius was so eager to fight, he could try to approach their ancient tombs, and then he would find his opponent.
11) I have often seen people being impolite by too much politeness, and embarrassing by their courtesy.
12) If what we call hurting and torment are neither hurting nor torment in themselves, but only in our imagination, it is in our power to change them.
13) While some await death with trembling and fear, others meet it with more ease than life.
14) Happy is he who is adjusting his needs in a way that his riches can handle without him having to think or worry about it.
15) Courage has its limits, like the other virtues, which, when surpassed lead us into the train of vices, as you can slide into temerity, obstination or folly.
16) In truth, it is reasonable to make a big difference between errors that come from our weaknesses, and those that come from our malice.
17) In order to always learn something from communication with others, always lead them into subjects that they know best.
18) It happens most often that people themselves choose to talk about other people’s occupations, considering that in that way they will add to their reputation.
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19) Nothing carries our judgment away more than fear.
20) He will live well who knows how to die well. (Seneca)
21) Imagination is strong. It gives fever and death to those who allow it to.
22) How often are our desires and wishes at the expense of others?
23) When you try to surpass yourself and move beyond your limits, your former self dies.
24) Habit is a dangerous master. She gradually takes control of us and, imperceptibly, establishes her authority.
25) The pedants have learned to speak to others, but not to themselves. (Cicero)
26) The authority of those who teach, often harms those who wish to learn. (Cicero)
27) It is good to let the pupil go in front, to judge his pace and to see how much the teacher needs to adjust his level of teaching.
28) Once the things have entered the mind, the words come by themselves. (Seneca)
29) Like the weight we place on it, will necessarily make the balance lean, evidence will move the spirit (Cicero). The more empty and without counterweight the spirit is, the more easily it will lean towards the weight of the first persuasion.
30) You can love virtue too much, and be too excessive in a just action. Don’t be wiser than you need.
31) It is easier to talk about the nature of gods than the nature of men, because the ignorance of the subject opens up for a nice and long career and freedom of dealing with the subject as you please.
32) We believe nothing as strongly as that which we know the least.
33) I do not make the common error of judging others by that who I am. I can easily believe things different from me. I receive more easily the differences than the similarities.
34) My weaknesses do not change the opinions that I should have about the strength and vigor of those who deserve it.
35) There are those who praise only that which they are certain to be able to imitate (Cicero).
36) It means a lot to me to have a clear judgment, and to keep at least this important part of me free from corruption.
37) Ambition, stinginess, indecisiveness, fear and lust do not abandon us for a change of place. They follow us even into monasteries and schools of philosophy.
38) Socrates was told about someone that he had not changed during his trip. ”Undoubtedly,” replied Socrates, “he brought himself along for the trip.”
20) He will live well who knows how to die well. (Seneca)
21) Imagination is strong. It gives fever and death to those who allow it to.
22) How often are our desires and wishes at the expense of others?
23) When you try to surpass yourself and move beyond your limits, your former self dies.
24) Habit is a dangerous master. She gradually takes control of us and, imperceptibly, establishes her authority.
25) The pedants have learned to speak to others, but not to themselves. (Cicero)
26) The authority of those who teach, often harms those who wish to learn. (Cicero)
27) It is good to let the pupil go in front, to judge his pace and to see how much the teacher needs to adjust his level of teaching.
28) Once the things have entered the mind, the words come by themselves. (Seneca)
29) Like the weight we place on it, will necessarily make the balance lean, evidence will move the spirit (Cicero). The more empty and without counterweight the spirit is, the more easily it will lean towards the weight of the first persuasion.
30) You can love virtue too much, and be too excessive in a just action. Don’t be wiser than you need.
31) It is easier to talk about the nature of gods than the nature of men, because the ignorance of the subject opens up for a nice and long career and freedom of dealing with the subject as you please.
32) We believe nothing as strongly as that which we know the least.
33) I do not make the common error of judging others by that who I am. I can easily believe things different from me. I receive more easily the differences than the similarities.
34) My weaknesses do not change the opinions that I should have about the strength and vigor of those who deserve it.
35) There are those who praise only that which they are certain to be able to imitate (Cicero).
36) It means a lot to me to have a clear judgment, and to keep at least this important part of me free from corruption.
37) Ambition, stinginess, indecisiveness, fear and lust do not abandon us for a change of place. They follow us even into monasteries and schools of philosophy.
38) Socrates was told about someone that he had not changed during his trip. ”Undoubtedly,” replied Socrates, “he brought himself along for the trip.”
Hanbury Gardens, Fredosor.com
39) We praise a horse for its vigor and ease of movement, not for its saddle or other equipment; a racing dog for its speed, not for its collar. Why do we not consider men for what they are? He has a great fortune, a grand palace, so much income. All those things are surrounding him, not inside him.
40) Is he wise, master of himself, so that poverty, prison, death do not make him tremble? Is he out of reach for Fortune? Such a man is five hundred times better than kingdoms and duchies: he is his own empire.
41) The wise, by Pollux! is the master of his own happiness (Plautus).
42) Human fears, obsessive worries, do not get intimidated by the noise of arms, neither by harsh looks. They haunt without pity the kings and the powerful, without any consideration for the shine of gold (Lucretius).
43)To say that only princes will eat turbot and wear velvet and golden thread, and forbid it to the people, what else is that than to place value in those things and increase everybody’s desire to have them?
44)I will readily pardon our people for having no other model and rule for perfection than their own customs and habits; because it is a common vice, not only among the vulgar, but among almost all men, to have their aim and their hold on the situation in which they are born.
45)Death is dreadful for Cicero, desirable to Cato, indifferent to Socrates. Health, conscience, authority, science, wealth, beauty and their opposites are taken off at the entrance, and are given new clothes by the soul, with the color it pleases. Don’t base yourself on external attributes of things; they are for us to see. Good or bad rests in us.
46)As long as it escapes us, the object of our desire seems more desirable than anything. Is it given to us? Our desire then goes elsewhere. And the same thirst again takes hold on us, our mouth opened. (Lucretius)
47)It happens, by an extraordinary vice of nature, that we have more liking, and more fear of things that we have not seen and that stay hidden and unknown. (Julius Cesar)
40) Is he wise, master of himself, so that poverty, prison, death do not make him tremble? Is he out of reach for Fortune? Such a man is five hundred times better than kingdoms and duchies: he is his own empire.
41) The wise, by Pollux! is the master of his own happiness (Plautus).
42) Human fears, obsessive worries, do not get intimidated by the noise of arms, neither by harsh looks. They haunt without pity the kings and the powerful, without any consideration for the shine of gold (Lucretius).
43)To say that only princes will eat turbot and wear velvet and golden thread, and forbid it to the people, what else is that than to place value in those things and increase everybody’s desire to have them?
44)I will readily pardon our people for having no other model and rule for perfection than their own customs and habits; because it is a common vice, not only among the vulgar, but among almost all men, to have their aim and their hold on the situation in which they are born.
45)Death is dreadful for Cicero, desirable to Cato, indifferent to Socrates. Health, conscience, authority, science, wealth, beauty and their opposites are taken off at the entrance, and are given new clothes by the soul, with the color it pleases. Don’t base yourself on external attributes of things; they are for us to see. Good or bad rests in us.
46)As long as it escapes us, the object of our desire seems more desirable than anything. Is it given to us? Our desire then goes elsewhere. And the same thirst again takes hold on us, our mouth opened. (Lucretius)
47)It happens, by an extraordinary vice of nature, that we have more liking, and more fear of things that we have not seen and that stay hidden and unknown. (Julius Cesar)