A quotation from Montaigne

There is another kind of “glory”: conceiving too high an opinion of our worth. This is an undeserved feeling by which we value ourselves, and that makes us think ourselves different than we are, just as the passion of love lends beauties and graces to the object it embraces and makes those smitten by it — with their judgment blurred and altered — find what they love different, and more perfect, than it is.
 
[Il y a une autre sorte de gloire, qui est une trop bonne opinion, que nous concevons de nostre valeur. C’est un’affection inconsideree, dequoy nous nous cherissons, qui nous represente à nous mesmes, autres que nous ne sommes. Comme la passion amoureuse preste des beautez, & des graces, au subject qu’elle embrasse ; & fait que ceux qui en sont espris, trouvent d’un jugement trouble & alteré, ce qu’ils aiment, autre & plus parfait qu’il n’est.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 2, ch. 17 (2.17), “Of Presumption [De la Presomption]” (1578) [tr. Atkinson/Sices (2012)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #montaigne #micheldemontaigne #ego #glory #pride #selfadmiration #selfapproval #selfassessment #selfdeception #selfdelusion #selfevaluation #selfglorification #selfimage #selflove #selfperception #selfregard #selfrighteousness #selfvalue #selfworth #vainglory #vanity #humility

Montaigne, Michel de - Essays, Book 2, ch. 17 (2.17), "Of Presumption [De la Presomption]" (1578) [tr. Atkinson/Sices (2012)] | WIST Quotations

There is another kind of "glory": conceiving too high an opinion of our worth. This is an undeserved feeling by which we value ourselves, and that makes us think ourselves different than we are, just as the passion of love lends beauties and graces to the object it embraces and…

WIST Quotations

Difficult passages

I don’t wear down my nails over some difficult passage in a book; I’ll make one or two forays, then if that fails I’ll give up. My mind is only really made for leapfrogging. What I don’t make out at the first attempt, I strain to see through an even deeper murk at every renewed effort.

~ Michel de Montaigne

slip:1570.

#MichelDeMontaigne #Quotes
Craig Constantine

Presence, not pursuit.

Craig Constantine

A quotation from Montaigne

I only quote others the better to quote myself.
 
[Je ne dis les autres, sinon pour d’autant plus me dire.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 25 (1.25), “Of the Education of Children [De l’institution des enfans]” (1579) [tr. Screech (1987), 1.26]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #montaigne #micheldemontaigne #clarity #expression #inspiration #phrasing #quotations #quoter #quoting #wording

A quotation from Montaigne

Our understanding is conducted solely by means of the word: anyone who falsifies it betrays public society. It is the only tool by which we communicate our wishes and our thoughts; it is our soul’s interpreter: if we lack that, we can no longer hold together; we can no longer know each other. When words deceive us, it breaks all intercourse and loosens the bonds of our polity.
 
[Nostre intelligence se conduisant par la seule voye de la parolle, celuy qui la faulse, trahit la societé publique. C’est le seul util, par le moyen duquel se communiquent noz volontez & noz pensees : c’est le truchement de nostre ame : s’il nous faut, nous ne nous tenons plus, nous ne nous entreconnoissons plus. S’il nous trompe, il rompt tout nostre commerce, & dissoult toutes les liaisons de nostre police.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 2, ch. 18 (2.18), “Of Giving the Lie [Du Démentir]” (1578–79) [tr. Screech (1987)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #montaigne #micheldemontaigne #communication #deceit #deception #disunity #interrelationship #language #lying #mistrust #polity #prevarication #relationship #society #words

Montaigne, Michel de - Essays, Book 2, ch. 18 (2.18), "Of Giving the Lie [Du Démentir]" (1578–79) [tr. Screech (1987)] | WIST Quotations

Our understanding is conducted solely by means of the word: anyone who falsifies it betrays public society. It is the only tool by which we communicate our wishes and our thoughts; it is our soul's interpreter: if we lack that, we can no longer hold together; we can no longer…

WIST Quotations

Literarischer #28Februar

„Was nützen mir die Farben, wenn ich nicht weiß, was ich malen soll?"

#MichelDeMontaigne #Essais Geburt 1533

A quotation from Montaigne

Lying is a villainous vice, and an ancient writer depicts it as most shameful when he says that to lie is to manifest contempt of God together with fear of man. It is not possible to represent more fully the horror, the vileness, the outrageousness of it. For what can be conceived more villainous than to be cowardly with respect to men, and audacious with respect to God?
 
[C’est un vilain vice, que le mentir ; & qu’un ancien peint bien honteusement, quand il dit, que c’est donner tesmoignage de mespriser Dieu, & quand & quand de craindre les hommes. Il n’est pas possible d’en representer plus richement l’horreur, la vilité & le desreiglement: Car que peut on imaginer plus vilain, que d’estre couart à l’endroit des hommes, & brave à l’endroit de Dieu?]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 2, ch. 18 (2.18), “Of Giving the Lie [Du Démentir]” (1578–79) [tr. Ives (1925)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #montaigne #micheldemontaigne #baseness #contempt #cowardice #defiance #dishonesty #falsehood #fear #lying #truth #untruth #vice

Montaigne, Michel de - Essays, Book 2, ch. 18 (2.18), "Of Giving the Lie [Du Démentir]" (1578–79) [tr. Ives (1925)] | WIST Quotations

Lying is a villainous vice, and an ancient writer depicts it as most shameful when he says that to lie is to manifest contempt of God together with fear of man. It is not possible to represent more fully the horror, the vileness, the outrageousness of it. For what can…

WIST Quotations

A quotation from Montaigne

The first sign of corrupt morals is the banishing of truth.
 
[Le premier traict de la corruption des mœurs, c’est le bannissement de la verité]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 2, ch. 18 (2.18), “Of Giving the Lie [Du Démentir]” (1578–79) [tr. Screech (1987)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #montaigne #micheldemontaigne #corruption #culture #custom #debasing #dishonesty #lies #lying #manners #mendacity #morals #mores #society #truth #untruth

A quotation from Montaigne

A good marriage, if there are such, rejects the company and conditions of love; it strives to show forth those of friendship. It is a calm fellowship of life, full of fidelity, of trust, and of an endless number of useful and substantial mutual duties and obligations.
 
[Un bon mariage, s’il en est, refuse la compagnie & conditions de l’amour : il tasche à representer celles de l’amitié. C’est une douce societé de vie, pleine de constance, de fiance, & d’un nombre infiny d’utiles & solides offices, & obligations mutuelles.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 3, ch. 5 (3.5), “Of Some Verses of Virgil [Sur des vers de Virgile]” (1586) [tr. Ives (1925)]

More about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #montaigne #micheldemontaigne #assistance #duties #fellowship #fidelity #friendship #love #marriage #mutualrespect #mutualsupport #obligations #passion #trust

Montaigne, Michel de - Essays, Book 3, ch. 5 (3.5), "Of Some Verses of Virgil [Sur des vers de Virgile]" (1586) [tr. Ives (1925)] | WIST Quotations

A good marriage, if there are such, rejects the company and conditions of love; it strives to show forth those of friendship. It is a calm fellowship of life, full of fidelity, of trust, and of an endless number of useful and substantial mutual duties and obligations. [Un bon mariage,…

WIST Quotations

Libre journal des amitiés françaises du 1er février 2026 : « Napoléon dans l’histoire du monde ; Portrait de Michel de Montaigne »

https://fed.brid.gy/r/https://www.rc.fr/2026/02/01/libre-journal-des-amities-francaises-du-1er-fevrier-2026-napoleon-dans-lhistoire-du-monde-portrait-de-michel-de-montaigne/

A quotation from Montaigne

Particularly dangerous are old men who retain the memory of past events, but do not remember how often they have repeated them. I have known some very amusing tales to become most tiresome when told by some gentlemen whose whole audience has been sated with them a hundred times.
 
[Sur tout les vieillards sont dangereux, à qui la souvenance des choses passees demeure, et ont perdu la souvenance de leurs redites. J’ay veu des recits bien plaisants, devenir tres-ennuyeux, en la bouche d’un Seigneur, chascun de l’assistance en ayant esté abbreuvé cent fois.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 9 (1.9), “Of Liars [Des Menteurs]” (1572) [tr. Cohen (1958)]

More info about (and translations of) this quote: wist.info/montaigne-michel-de/…

#quote #quotes #quotation #qotd #montaigne #micheldemontaigne #anecdote #elderly #memory #oldage #repeating #repetition #retelling #story

Montaigne, Michel de - Essays, Book 1, ch. 9 (1.9), "Of Liars [Des Menteurs]" (1572) [tr. Cohen (1958)] | WIST Quotations

Particularly dangerous are old men who retain the memory of past events, but do not remember how often they have repeated them. I have known some very amusing tales to become most tiresome when told by some gentlemen whose whole audience has been sated with them a hundred times. [Sur…

WIST Quotations