“Nature forms us for ourselves, not for others; to be, not to seem.”

— Michel de Montaigne, Essais, Book II, Ch. 37

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.

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

“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.”

“Let whatever appears to be the best be to you an inviolable law.”

“Lord, what fools these mortals be!”

“All that glisters is not gold.”

“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”

“And one man in his time plays many parts.”

“Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice.”