Montaigne the Essayist: A Biography, Volume 2Chapman and Hall, 1858 |
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admired afterwards agreeable alludes ancient appear baths beauty Boëtie Bordeaux brother called Catholic CHAPTER Charron château Church court custom d'Estissac daughter death doubt Duke Duke of Guise écus elsewhere endeavoured Essayist Essays favour fear France Françoise French friends Gascony gentleman Gournay Guienne Henry of Navarre Henry the Fourth Henry the Third honour Italian Italy Jesuits journey King of Navarre ladies learned Léonore letter Ligue literary lived lodged Madame de Duras manner Maréchal Marguerite of Navarre Marie Marie de Gournay matter mayor mind Montaigne's nature neighbour neighbourhood never observed once opinions Paris party passed philosopher Plutarch poetry Pope reason religion road Rome says Montaigne secretary seems seen sent servant sixteenth century taigne taigne's talked things Thou thought took travellers valet Venice village whilst wife wine women writing wrote
Popular passages
Page 85 - It is a nation, would I answer Plato, that hath no kinde of traffike, no knowledge of Letters, no intelligence of numbers, no name of magistrate, nor of politike superioritie ; no use of service, of riches or of povertie ; no contracts, no successions, no partitions, no occupation but idle ; no respect of kindred, but common, no apparell but naturall, no manuring of lands, no use of wine, corne, or mettle.
Page 62 - The best method to lay the spectres of the mind is to commit them to paper. Speaking of the Essays, he says, " This book has a domestic and private object. It is intended for the use of my relations and friends ; so that, when they have lost me, which they will soon do, they may find in it some features of my condition and humours ; and by this means keep up more completely, and in a more lively manner, the knowledge they have of me.
Page 110 - I know, have trusted entirely to heaven for the protection of mine. And I have never removed from it a silver spoon or a title deed.
Page 284 - Me cichorea, levesque malvae. Frui paratis et valido mihi, Latoe, dones, et, precor, Integra Cum mente; nee turpem senectam Degere, nee cithara carentem.
Page 94 - ... nature. Age wrinkles the mind more than the face.. Habit is a second nature. Hunger cures love. It is easier to get money than to keep it Anger has often been the vehicle of courage. It is more difficult to command than to obey. A liar should have a good memory. Ambition is the daughter of presumption.
Page 56 - ... and by means of which he carried on the work of speculation. He rarely read a book from beginning to end, but preferred fluttering the leaves under his hand and allowing his attention to rest here and there. He cared not where he got his quotations — at first or second-hand — and with pleasant self-sufficiency says : " I have but to stretch out my hand and take down a dozen books, consisting of extracts strung together, if I want to give an appearance of reading to this
Page 85 - ... no contracts, no successions, no partitions, no occupation but idle; no respect of kindred, but common; no apparel, but natural; no manuring of lands; no use of wine; corn or metal. The very words that import lying, falsehood, treason, dissimulations, covetousness, envy, detraction and pardon were never heard of amongst them.
Page 34 - D civil community. Elsewhere I have but a verbal authority, merely essential and confused. Wretched is he, who in his own home has really no home of his own, where he can pay court to himself and hide himself when he pleases...
Page 281 - I have ordered myself to dare to say all that I dare to do, and I dislike even thoughts that are unpublishable. The worst of my actions and conditions does not seem to me so ugly as the cowardice of not daring to avow it. Everyone is discreet in confession; people should be so in action. Boldness in sinning is somewhat compensated and bridled by boldness in confessing.
Page 310 - I should not hesitate to risk my life. I have never received anything from the liberality of kings — nor have I asked nor deserved any present — and have received no payment for the steps I have taken in their service, of which your Majesty is partly aware.