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.

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

A man must become wise at his own expense.

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

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

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

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

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.

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.

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

Only the fools are certain and assured.

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.

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.

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

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

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