Michel de Montaigne Wisdom Quotations

We can be knowledgable with other men's knowledge but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.

There is no conversation more boring than the one where everybody agrees.

A wise man loses nothing, if he but save himself.

Children's playthings are not sports and should be deemed as their most serious actions.

Life itself is neither a good nor an evil: life is where good or evil find a place, depending on how you make it for them.

Wisdom has its excesses, and has no less need of moderation than folly.

Human wisdom makes as ill use of her talent when she exercises it in rescinding from the number and sweetness of those pleasures that are naturally our due, as she employs it favorably and well in artificially disguising and tricking out the ills of life to alleviate the sense of them.

If you want it to be so, history can be a waste of time; it can also be, if you want it to be so, a study bearing fruit beyond price.

I love a gay and sociable wisdom, and shun harshness and austerity in behaviour, holding every surly countenance suspect.

We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow.

Only the fools are certain and assured.

Fie on the eloquence that leaves us craving itself, not things!

Lay a beam between these two towers of such width as we need to walk on: there is no philosophical wisdom of such great firmness that it can give us courage to walk on it as we should if it were on the ground.

The wise man should withdraw his soul within, out of the crowd, and keep it in freedom and power to judge things freely; but as for externals, he should wholly follow the accepted fashions and forms.

The most certain sign of wisdom is continual cheerfulness; her state is like the things above the moon, always clear and serene.

Wisdom is a solid and entire building, of which every piece keeps its place and bears its mark.

We can be knowledgeable with other men's knowledge, but we cannot be wise with other men's wisdom.

Philosophical discussions habitually make men happy and joyful not frowning and sad.

Our wisdom and deliberation for the most part follow the lead of chance.

The most evident token and apparent sign of true wisdom is a constant and unconstrained rejoicing.

A man must become wise at his own expense.

He who fears he will suffer, already suffers from his fear.