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John Bartlett (1820–1905). Familiar Quotations, 10th ed. 1919.

Page 961

 
 
Michel Eyquem, seigneur de Montaigne. (1533–1592) (continued)
 
9278
    Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know.
          Book i. Chap. xxxi. Of Divine Ordinances.
9279
    A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.
          Book i. Chap. xxxviii. Of Solitude.
9280
    Even opinion is of force enough to make itself to be espoused at the expense of life.
          Book i. Chap. xl. Of Good and Evil.
9281
    Plato says, “’T is to no purpose for a sober man to knock at the door of the Muses;” and Aristotle says “that no excellent soul is exempt from a mixture of folly.” 1
          Book ii. Chap. ii. Of Drunkenness.
9282
    For a desperate disease a desperate cure. 2
          Book ii. Chap. iii. The Custom of the Isle of Cea.
9283
    And not to serve for a table-talk. 3
          Book ii. Chap. iii. The Custom of the Isle of Cea.
9284
    To which we may add this other Aristotelian consideration, that he who confers a benefit on any one loves him better than he is beloved by him again. 4
          Book ii. Chap. viii. Of the Affections of Fathers.
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    The middle sort of historians (of which the most part are) spoil all; they will chew our meat for us.
          Book ii. Chap. x. Of Books.
9286
    The only good histories are those that have been written by the persons themselves who commanded in the affairs whereof they write.
          Book ii. Chap. x. Of Books.
9287
    She [virtue] requires a rough and stormy passage; she will have either outward difficulties to wrestle with, 5 … or internal difficulties.
          Book ii. Chap. xi. Of Cruelty.
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    There is, nevertheless, a certain respect and a general duty of humanity that ties us, not only to beasts that have life and sense, but even to trees and plants.
          Book ii. Chap. xi. Of Cruelty.
 
Note 1.
See Dryden, Quotation 5. [back]
Note 2.
See Shakespeare, Hamlet, Quotation 179. [back]
Note 3.
See Shakespeare, The Merchant of Venice Quotation 62. [back]
Note 4.
Aristotle: Ethics, ix. 7. [back]
Note 5.
See Milton, Quotation 363. [back]