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Those sciences which govern the morals of mankind, such as Theology and Philosophy, make everything their concern: no activity is so private or so secret as to escape their attention or their jurisdiction.
Michel De Montaigne
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Interpretation

What this quote means

The quote emphasizes that moral sciences such as Theology and Philosophy cover all aspects of human activity, regardless of how private or secret they may seem.

Michel De Montaigne asserts that branches of knowledge like Theology and Philosophy are fundamentally concerned with all human activities, asserting their influence over even the most intimate and concealed aspects of life. This highlights the pervasive nature of moral inquiry and the extent to which these disciplines seek to understand and govern human behavior.

Themes

MoralsTheologyPhilosophyHuman ActivityJurisdiction

In practice

Example use cases

During a discussion on ethics in a philosophy class.

More from Michel De Montaigne

All the world knows me in my book, and my book in me.
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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.
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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.
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There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state.
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Those who have compared our life to a dream were right... we were sleeping wake, and waking sleep.
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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

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