Michel de Montaigne Quotes
'Tis the sharpness of our mind that gives the edge to our pains and pleasures.
Montaigne, Michel de. The Complete Essays of Montaigne. Translated by Donald M. Frame, Stanford UP, 1958, p. 40.
Spinoza was one of the most feared intellectuals in human history—feared that is by the established power structures. He is the only known person who was excommunicated by the Catholics, the Jews and the Muslims—all were forbidden to read his works. He was the enemy of authority and advocated personal reason as the guide for men.
Michel Eyquem de Montaigne, also known as Lord of Montaigne, was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance, known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. His work is noted for its merging of casual anecdotes and autobiography with intellectual insight. His massive volume Essais contains some of the most influential essays ever written.