“I quote others only in order the better to express myself.”

― Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays

“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.”

― Montaigne, Les Essais

“He who fears he shall suffer, already suffers what he fears.”

― Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays

“I prefer the company of peasants because they have not been educated sufficiently to reason incorrectly.”

― Michel de Montaigne

“Obsession is the wellspring of genius and madness.”

― Michel de Montaigne

“To compose our character is our duty, not to compose books, and to win, not battles and provinces, but order and tranquility in our conduct. Our great and glorious masterpiece is to live appropriately. All other things, ruling, hoarding, building, are only little appendages and props, at most.”

― Michel de Montaigne

“To practice death is to practice freedom. A man who has learned how to die has unlearned how to be a slave.”

― Michel de Montaigne

“My art and profession is to live.”

― Montaigne

“Every man has within himself the entire human condition”

― Michel de Montaigne

“Not being able to govern events, I govern myself.”

― Michel de Montaigne

“Kings and philosophers shit—and so do ladies.”

― Michel de Montaigne

“I have never seen a greater monster or miracle than myself.”

― Michel de Montaigne

“I want us to be doing things, prolonging life\'s duties as much as we can. I want death to find me planting my cabbages, neither worrying about it nor the unfinished gardening.”

― Michel de Montaigne