All the world knows me in my book, and my book in me.
Michel De MontaigneRead
In his commerce with men I mean him to include- and that principally- those who live only in the memory of books. By means of history he will frequent those great souls of former years. If you want it to be so, history can be a waste of time; it can also be, if you want it to be so, a study bearing fruit beyond price.
Interpretation
What this quote means
History can be either meaningless or invaluable, depending on how one chooses to engage with it.
In this quote, Montaigne emphasizes the importance of actively engaging with history and literature. He suggests that the knowledge gained from studying the past can connect us with the great minds of history, but it is up to the individual to decide whether this engagement is worthwhile or merely a waste of time.
Themes
HistoryEngagementLearningWisdomKnowledge
In practice
Example use cases
In a graduation speech emphasizing the importance of learning from the past.
More from Michel De Montaigne
All quotes →All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Pythagoras used to say that life resembles the Olympic Games: a few people strain their muscles to carry off a prize; others bring trinkets to sell to the crowd for gain; and some there are, and not the worst, who seek no other profit than to look at the show and see how and why everything is done; spectators of the life of other people in order to judge and regulate their own.
Michel De MontaigneRead
There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Those who have compared our life to a dream were right... we were sleeping wake, and waking sleep.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Such as are in immediate fear of a losing their estates, of banishment, or of slavery, live in perpetual anguish, and lose all appetite and repose; whereas such as are actually poor, slaves, or exiles, ofttimes live as merrily as other folk.
Michel De MontaigneRead
Similar quotes
But if a mirror ever makes _x000D_ you sad_x000D_ you should know_x000D_ that it does _x000D_ not know_x000D_ you.
KabirRead
I'd rather spend half an hour in the company of a top carpenter, than three hours in the company of an average brain surgeon
Winston ChurchillRead
A toad does not run in the daytime for nothing
Chinua AchebeRead
The sign of vigour, the sign of life, the sign of hope, the sign of health, the sign of everything that is good, is strength. As long as the body lives, there must be strength in the body, strength in the mind, [and strength] in the hand.
Swami VivekanandaRead
Vanity is something that will only get in the way of doing your best work, and ultimately if you're truly vain you care more about your work than how you look in your work. I actually consider myself a pretty vain guy when it comes to that.
Philip Seymour HoffmanRead
Birds sing after a storm; why shouldn't people feel as free to delight in whatever remains to them?
Rose KennedyRead