Michel de Montaigne Quotes

Be wisely worldly, but not worldly wise.

You must be wise, but not too wise.

The people sensible enough to give good advice are usually sensible enough to give none.

It is the sign of a great mind to dislike greatness, and to prefer things in measure to things in excess.

You can be very wild and still be very wise.

Moderation is the inseparable companion of wisdom, but with it genius has not even a nodding acquaintance.

Moderation is a virtue only in those who are thought to have an alternative.

To seek understanding before taking action, yet to trust my instincts when action is called for. Never to avoid danger from fear, never to seek out danger for its own sake. Never to conform to fashion from fear of eccentricity, never to be eccentric from fear of conformity.

Knowing what you can not do is more important than knowing what you can do. In fact, that's good taste.

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.

To act wisely when the time for action comes, to wait patiently when it is time for repose, put man in accord with the tides. Ignorance of this law results in periods of unreasoning enthusiasm on the one hand, and depression on the other.

This I consider to be a valuable principle in life: Do no thing in excess.

To be witty is not enough. One must possess sufficient wit to avoid having too much of it.

Wisdom consists of the anticipation of consequences.

There is a time and a place for things. Sometimes one needs to put a filter on oneself. That can be a good thing.

The wise man should restrain his senses like the crane and accomplish his purpose with due knowledge of his place, time and ability.

If the quickness of the mind and the fluency of the tongue are too punctilious and sharp, moderate them in your activity and rest.

Be sure your wisest words are those you do not say.

When a thing is not worth overdoing, leave it alone!

Less judgment than wit is more sail than ballast.

Perfect reason flees all extremity, and leads one to be wise with sobriety.

A wise man thinks what is easy is difficult.

There are many things of which a wise man might wish to be ignorant.

Genius is knowing where to stop.

Men's wisdom increases with reference to what lies before them.