Essays — Michel de Montaigne

Essays

Michel de Montaigne · Άδεια: Public domain · Πηγή

• But if I was to compare them with my own, I should then also say that the first is as much according to my capacity, and from desire, which I conform to my capacity, as the second is far beyond it; that I could not approach the last but with veneration, the other I could readily attain by use. CHAPTER VII · ¶4374
• 'Tis a custom of our justice to condemn some for a warning to others. To condemn them for having done amiss, were folly, as Plato says, CHAPTER VIII · ¶4385
• "Nonne vides, Albi ut male vivat filius? utque Barrus inops? magnum documentum, ne patriam rein Perdere guis velit;" CHAPTER VIII · ¶4388
• "Neque enim disputari sine reprehensione potest." CHAPTER VIII · ¶4394
• Now, who would not enter into distrust of sciences, and doubt whether he can reap from them any solid fruit for the service of life, considering the use we put them to? CHAPTER VIII · ¶4399
• Who has got understanding by his logic? Where are all her fair promises? CHAPTER VIII · ¶4402
• "Nec ad melius vivendum, nec ad commodius disserendum." CHAPTER VIII · ¶4403
• I love and honour knowledge as much as they that have it, and in its true use 'tis the most noble and the greatest acquisition of men; but in such as I speak of (and the number of them is infinite), who build their fundamental sufficiency and value upon it, who appeal from their understanding to their memory: CHAPTER VIII · ¶4407
• "Stercus cuique suum bene olet." CHAPTER VIII · ¶4413
• "Age, si hic non insanit satis sua sponte, instiga." CHAPTER VIII · ¶4416
• I hate all sorts of tyranny, both in word and deed. I am very ready to oppose myself against those vain circumstances that delude our judgments by the senses; and keeping my eye close upon those extraordinary greatnesses, I find that at best they are men, as others are: CHAPTER VIII · ¶4420
• "Rarus enim ferme sensus communis in illa Fortuna." CHAPTER VIII · ¶4421
• "Humani qualis simulator simius oris, Quern puer arridens pretioso stamine serum Velavit, nudasque nates ac terga reliquit, Ludibrium mensis." CHAPTER VIII · ¶4424
• Neither is it enough for those who govern and command us, and have all the world in their hands, to have a common understanding, and to be able to do the same that we can; they are very much below us, if they be not infinitely above us: as they promise more, so they are to perform more. CHAPTER VIII · ¶4426
• Dignities and offices are of necessity conferred more by fortune than upon the account of merit; and we are often to blame, to condemn kings when these are misplaced: on the contrary, 'tis a wonder they should have so good luck, where there is so little skill: CHAPTER VIII · ¶4428
• "Principis est virtus maxima nosse suos;" CHAPTER VIII · ¶4429
• "Vertuntur species animorum, et pectora motus Nunc alios, alios, dum nubila ventus agebat, Concipiunt." CHAPTER VIII · ¶4439
• "Ut quisque Fortuna utitur, Ita praecellet; atque exinde sapere illum omnes dicimus;" CHAPTER VIII · ¶4442
• wherefore I say unreservedly, events are a very poor testimony of our worth and parts. CHAPTER VIII · ¶4444
• "Videndum est, non modo quid quisque loquatur, sed etiam quid quisque sentiat, atque etiam qua de causa quisque sentiat." CHAPTER VIII · ¶4448
• 'Ablatum mediis opus est incudibus istud.' CHAPTER VIII · ¶4454
• "Beneficia ea usque lxta sunt, dum videntur exsolvi posse; ubi multum antevenere, pro gratis odium redditur;" CHAPTER VIII · ¶4458
• "Nam qui putat esse turpe non reddere, non vult esse cui reddat:" CHAPTER VIII · ¶4461
• Q. Cicero says with less directness.: CHAPTER VIII · ¶4463
• "Qui se non putat satisfacere, amicus esse nullo modo potest." CHAPTER VIII · ¶6494
• "Equidem plura transcribo, quam credo: nam nec affirmare sustineo, de quibus dubito, nec subducere quae accepi;" CHAPTER VIII · ¶4473
• "Haec neque affirmare neque refellere operae pretium est; famae rerum standum est." CHAPTER VIII · ¶4476

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