Michel de Montaigne was among the most influential minds of the French Renaissance, though his writing style was quite unusual compared to that of many of his contemporaries. As displayed in his famous work Essais, a collection of essays, Montaigne expressed his skepticism through a free-flowing and somewhat conversational style.
He was known for infusing his philosophical works with personal ruminations and informal anecdotes, rather than relying solely on complex vocabulary and eloquent wordsmithing. Many of these writings were criticized at the time for defying conventional scholarly norms, but over the years, Montaigne has gained a reputation for offering one of the most honest and forthright approaches of any Renaissance thinker.
Montaigne maintained that people can only live a full life through experience, and thus he promoted an active learning process reliant on trial, error, and human interaction. He was also a firm believer in the idea that doubt is ever-present, and that the quest to achieve true certainty is futile. Montaigne’s humanist beliefs went on to inspire many other influential figures, including Francis Bacon, Voltaire, and William Shakespeare.
Here are 13 quotes from Montaigne on what it means to live a full and honest life to the best of our ability. His teachings serve as a reminder to practice self-awareness, to know our limits, and to continually learn through experience.
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.
Whatever can be done another day can be done today.
Let us give Nature a chance; she knows her business better than we do.
No matter that we may mount on stilts, we still must walk on our own legs. And on the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.
He who does not give himself leisure to be thirsty cannot take pleasure in drinking.
They who have compared our lives to a dream were, perhaps, more in the right than they were aware of.
The thing I fear most is fear.
The easy, gentle, and sloping path that guides the footsteps of a good natural disposition is not the path of true virtue.
I do not speak the minds of others except to speak my own mind better.
The utility of living consists not in the length of days, but in the use of time; a man may have lived long, and yet lived but a little. Make use of time while it is present with you. It depends upon your will, and not upon the number of days, to have a sufficient length of life.
I will follow the good side right to the fire, but not into it if I can help it.
A man must be a little mad if he does not want to be even more stupid.
Every other knowledge is harmful to him who does not have knowledge of goodness.
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