Michel de Montaigne

A lady could not boast of her chastity who was never tempted.

Michel de Montaigne

A man may be humble through vainglory.

Michel de Montaigne

A man may by custom fortify himself against pain, shame, and suchlike accidents; but as to death, we can experience it but once, and are all apprentices when we come to it.

Michel de Montaigne

A man must always study, but he must not always go to school: what a contemptible thing is an old abecedarian!

Michel de Montaigne

A man must keep a little back shop where he can be himself without reserve. In solitude alone can he know true freedom.

Michel de Montaigne

A noble heart should not belie its thoughts; it wants to reveal itself even to its inmost depths. There everything is good, at least everything is human.

Michel de Montaigne

All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.

Michel de Montaigne

All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.

Michel de Montaigne

Death is not one of our social managements; it is a scene with one character.

Michel de Montaigne

Death, they say, acquits us of all obligations.

Michel de Montaigne