Essays — Michel de Montaigne

Essays

Michel de Montaigne · License: Public domain · Source

• I follow the common phrase that distinguishes betwixt profitable and honest things, so as to call some natural actions, that are not only profitable but necessary, dishonest and foul. CHAPTER I · ¶3729
• The slave who betrayed the place where his master, P. Sulpicius, lay concealed, was, according to the promise of Sylla's proscription, manumitted for his pains; but according to the promise of the public justice, which was free from any such engagement, he was thrown headlong from the Tarpeian rock. CHAPTER I · ¶3735
• The end of this matter is excusable, if any can be so; but the profit of the augmentation of the public revenue, that served the Roman Senate for a pretence to the foul conclusion I am going to relate, is not sufficient to warrant any such injustice. CHAPTER I · ¶3742
• "Quasi vero forti viro vis possit adhiberi." CHAPTER I · ¶3745
• And 'tis only lawful, upon the account of private interest, to excuse breach of promise, when we have promised something that is unlawful and wicked in itself; for the right of virtue ought to take place of the right of any obligation of ours. CHAPTER I · ¶3747
• "Manente memoria, etiam in dissidio publicorum foederum, privati juris:" CHAPTER I · ¶3749
• "Et nulla potentia vires Praestandi, ne quid peccet amicus, habet;" CHAPTER I · ¶3751
• and that all things are not lawful to an honest man for the service of his prince, the laws, or the general quarrel: CHAPTER I · ¶3753
• "Non enim patria praestat omnibus officiis.... et ipsi conducit pios habere cives in parentes." CHAPTER I · ¶3754
• I abominate those mad exhortations of this other discomposed soul, CHAPTER I · ¶3757
• "Dum tela micant, non vos pietatis imago Ulla, nec adversa conspecti fronte parentes Commoveant; vultus gladio turbate verendos." CHAPTER I · ¶3758
• A man but ill proves the honour and beauty of an action by its utility: and very erroneously concludes that every one is obliged to it, and that it becomes every one to do it, if it be of utility: CHAPTER I · ¶3761
• "Omnia non pariter rerum sunt omnibus apta." CHAPTER I · ¶3762
• Let us take that which is most necessary and profitable for human society; it will be marriage; and yet the council of the saints find the contrary much better, excluding from it the most venerable vocation of man: as we design those horses for stallions of which we have the least esteem. CHAPTER I · ¶3764
• "Quae fuerant vitia, mores sunt." CHAPTER II · ¶3772
• "Tuo tibi judicio est utendum.... Virtutis et vitiorum grave ipsius conscientiae pondus est: qua sublata, jacent omnia." CHAPTER II · ¶3775
• "Quae mens est hodie, cur eadem non puero fait? Vel cur his animis incolumes non redeunt genae?" CHAPTER II · ¶3778
• Natural inclinations are much assisted and fortified by education; but they seldom alter and overcome their institution: a thousand natures of my time have escaped towards virtue or vice, through a quite contrary discipline: CHAPTER II · ¶3782
• "Sic ubi, desuetae silvis, in carcere clausae Mansuevere ferx, et vultus posuere minaces, Atque hominem didicere pati, si torrida parvus Venit in ora cruor, redeunt rabiesque fororque, Admonitaeque tument gustato sanguine fauces Fervet, et a trepido vix abstinet ira magistro;" CHAPTER II · ¶3783
• As to the rest, I abominate that incidental repentance which old age brings along with it. He, who said of old, that he was obliged to his age for having weaned him from pleasure, was of another opinion than I am; I can never think myself beholden to impotency for any good it can do to me: CHAPTER II · ¶3796
• "Nec tam aversa unquam videbitur ab opere suo providentia, ut debilitas inter optima inventa sit." CHAPTER II · ¶3797
• "Huic versatile ingenium sic pariter ad omnia fuit, ut natum ad id unum diceres, quodcumque ageret." CHAPTER III · ¶3806
• "Vitia otii negotio discutienda sunt," CHAPTER III · ¶3809
• Meditation is a powerful and full study to such as can effectually taste and employ themselves; I had rather fashion my soul than furnish it. There is no employment, either more weak or more strong, than that of entertaining a man's own thoughts, according as the soul is; the greatest men make it their whole business, CHAPTER III · ¶3812
• nature has therefore favoured it with this privilege, that there is nothing we can do so long, nor any action to which we more frequently and with greater facility addict ourselves. 'Tis the business of the gods, says Aristotle,' and from which both their beatitude and ours proceed. CHAPTER III · ¶3815
• "Narras et genus AEaci, Et pugnata sacro bella sub Ilio Quo Chium pretio cadum Mercemur, quis aquam temperet ignibus, Quo praebente domum, et quota, Pelignis caream frigoribus, taces." CHAPTER III · ¶3821
• "Favellare in puma di forchetta." CHAPTER III · ¶3824
• You must let yourself down to those with whom you converse; and sometimes affect ignorance: lay aside power and subtilty in common conversation; to preserve decorum and order 'tis enough-nay, crawl on the earth, if they so desire it. CHAPTER III · ¶3826
• "Hoc sermone pavent, hoc iram, gaudia, curas, Hoc cuncta effundunt animi secreta; quid ultra? Concumbunt docte;" CHAPTER III · ¶3828
• The conversation also of beautiful and honourable women is for me a sweet commerce: CHAPTER III · ¶3833
• "Nam nos quoque oculos eruditos habemus." CHAPTER III · ¶3834
• "Quicumque Argolica de classe Capharea fugit, Semper ab Euboicis vela retorquet aquis." CHAPTER III · ¶3837
• "Neque afl'ectui suo, aut alieno, obnoxiae;" CHAPTER III · ¶3840
• "Magna servitus est magna fortuna." CHAPTER III · ¶3847

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