“Because it was he, because it was I.”

— Michel de Montaigne, Essays, 'Of Friendship' (1580)

About Michel de Montaigne

1533 – 1592

French Renaissance philosopher, the inventor of the personal essay. His 'Essays' (1580) explore friendship, self-knowledge and human nature.

“All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.”

“He who should teach men to die would at the same time teach them to live.”

“Whatever can be done another day can be done today.”

“And such a friendship ends not but with life.”

“Friendship is born at the moment when one person says to another, 'What! You too? I thought I was the only one.'”

“Friendship is unnecessary, like philosophy, like art... It has no survival value; rather it is one of those things which give value to survival.”

“A friend is a second self.”

“What! You too? I thought that no one but myself...”

“A friend loveth at all times, and a brother is born for adversity.”