We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure frank criticism without being stung by it, those who venture to criticize us perform a remarkable act of friendship, for to undertake to wound or offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love for him.

— Michel de Montaigne

We only labor to stuff the memory, and leave the conscience and the understanding unfurnished and void.

— Michel de Montaigne

...were these Essays of mine considerable enough to deserve a critical judgment, it might then, I think, fallout that they would not much take with common and vulgar capacities, nor be very acceptable to the singular and excellent sort of men; the first would not understand them enough, and the last too much; and so they may hover in the middle region.

— Michel de Montaigne

We should tend our freedom wisely.

— Michel de Montaigne

We trouble our life by thoughts about death, and our death by thoughts about life.

— Michel de Montaigne

We undo ourselves by impatience. Misfortunes have their life and their limits their sickness and their health.

— Michel de Montaigne

What a prodigious conscience must that be that can be at quiet within itself whilst it harbors under the same roof, with so agreeing and so calm a society, both the crime and the judge?

— Michel de Montaigne

Whatever is enforced by command is more imputed to him who exacts than to him who performs.

— Michel de Montaigne

When I am attacked by gloomy thoughts, nothing helps me so much as running to my books. They quickly absorb me and banish the clouds from my mind.

— Michel de Montaigne

When I religiously confess myself to myself I find that the best virtue I have has in it some tincture of vice.

— Michel de Montaigne