Every other knowledge is harmful to him who does not have knowledge of goodness.

— Michel de Montaigne

Excellent memories are often coupled with feeble judgments.

— Michel de Montaigne

Experience has taught me this, that we undo ourselves by impatience. Misfortunes have their life and their limits, their sickness and their health.

— Michel de Montaigne

Fear desire hope still push us on toward the future.

— Michel de Montaigne

For truly it is to be noted, that children's plays are not sports, and should be deemed as their most serious actions.

— Michel de Montaigne

Fortune, seeing that she could not make fools wise, has made them lucky.

— Michel de Montaigne

From books all I seek is to give myself pleasure by an honorable pastime: or if I do study, I seek only that branch of learning which deals with knowing myself and which teaches me how to live and die well...

— Michel de Montaigne

Greatness of soul consists not so much in soaring high and in pressing forward as in knowing how to adapt and limit oneself.

— Michel de Montaigne

Had I been placed among those nations which are said to live still in the sweet freedom of nature's first laws, I assure you I should very gladly have portrayed myself here entire and wholly naked. Thus, reader, I am myself the matter of my book; you would be unreasonable to spend your leisure on so frivolous and vain a subject.

— Michel de Montaigne

He lives happy and master of himself who can say as each day passes on, "I have lived.

— Michel de Montaigne