The share we have in the knowledge of truth, such as it is, has not been acquired by our own powers. God has taught ushis wonderful secrets; our faith is not of our acquiring, it is purely the gift of another’s bounty.
Of the opinions of philosophy I most gladly embrace those that are most solid, that is to say, most human and most our own; my opinions, in conformity with my conduct, are low and humble.
If people must be talking about me, I would have it to be truthfully and justly. I would willingly return from the next world to contradict any person who described me other than I was, although he did it to honour me.
We should spread joy, but, as far as we can, repress sorrow.
I love a gay and sociable wisdom, and shun harshness and austerity in behaviour, holding every surly countenance suspect.
Judgement holds in me a magisterial seat, at least it carefully tries to. It lets my feelings go their way, both hatred and friendship, even the friendship I bear myself, without being changed and corrupted by them.
Oh, a friend! How true is that old saying, that the enjoyment of one is sweeter and more necessary than that of the elements of water and fire!
Speech belongs half to the speaker, half to the listener. The latter must prepare to receive it according to the motion it takes.
Authors communicate with the people by some special extrinsic mark; I am the first to do so by my entire being, as Michel de Montaigne.
There is no doubt that Greek and Latin are great and handsome ornaments, but we buy them too dear.
Our truth of nowadays is not what is, but what others can be convinced of; just as we call “money” not only that which is legal, but also any counterfeit that will pass.
Almost all the opinions we have are taken on authority and on credit.
Now there cannot be first principles for men, unless the Divinity has revealed them; all the rest – beginning, middle, and end – isnothing but dreams and smoke.
We need very strong ears to hear ourselves judged frankly, and because there are few who can endure frank criticism without being stung by it, those who venture to criticize us perform a remarkable act of friendship, for to undertake to wound or offend a man for his own good is to have a healthy love for him.
Women are not entirely wrong when they reject the moral rules proclaimed in society, since it is we men alone who have made them.
From books all I seek is to give myself pleasure by an honourable pastime: or if I do study, I seek only that branch of learning which deals with knowing myself and which teaches me how to live and die well...
What hits you affects you and wakes you up more then what pleases you.
I know no marriages which fail and come to grief more quickly than those which are set on foot by beauty and amorous desire.
I seek in the reading of my books only to please myself by an irreproachable diversion; or if I study it is for no other science than that which treats of the knowledge of myself, and instructs me how to die and live well.
Wherever your life ends, it is all there. The utility of living consists not in the length of days, but in the use of time; a man may have lived long, and yet lived but a little. Make use of time while it is present with you. It depends upon your will, and not upon the number of days, to have a sufficient length of life.