part ii
. chap. xxxv._
[773-8] See Burton, page 190.
[773-9] See Scott, page 493.
[773-10] See Shakespeare, page 115.
[773-11] See Chaucer, page 3.
[773-12] See Plutarch, page 738.
MICHAEL DE MONTAIGNE. 1533-1592.
(_Works._[774-1] _Cotton's translation, revised by Hazlitt and Wight._)
Man in sooth is a marvellous, vain, fickle, and unstable subject.[774-2]
_Book i. Chap. i. That Men by various Ways arrive at the same End._
All passions that suffer themselves to be relished and digested are but moderate.[774-3]
_Book i. Chap. ii. Of Sorrow._
It is not without good reason said, that he who has not a good memory should never take upon him the trade of lying.[774-4]
_Book i. Chap. ix. Of Liars._
He who should teach men to die would at the same time teach them to live.[774-5]
_Book i. Chap. xviii. That Men are not to judge of our Happiness till after Death._
The laws of conscience, which we pretend to be derived from nature, proceed from custom.
_Book i. Chap. xxii. Of Custom._
Accustom him to everything, that he may not be a Sir Paris, a carpet-knight,[774-6] but a sinewy, hardy, and vigorous young man.
_Book i. Chap. xxv. Of the Education of Children._
We were halves throughout, and to that degree that methinks by outliving him I defraud him of his part.
_Book i. Chap. xxvii. Of Friendship._
There are some defeats more triumphant than victories.[774-7]
_Book i. Chap. xxx. Of Cannibals._
Nothing is so firmly believed as what we least know.
_Book i. Chap. xxxi. Of Divine Ordinances._
A wise man never loses anything, if he has himself.
_Book i. Chap. xxxviii. Of Solitude._
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._
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."[775-1]
_Book ii. Chap. ii. Of Drunkenness._
For a desperate disease a desperate cure.[775-2]
_Book ii. Chap. iii. The Custom of the Isle of Cea._
And not to serve for a table-talk.[775-3]
_Book ii. Chap. iii. The Custom of the Isle of Cea._
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.[775-4]
_Book ii. Chap. viii. Of the Affection of Fathers._
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._
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._
She [virtue] requires a rough and stormy passage; she will have either outward difficulties to wrestle with,[775-5] . . . or internal difficulties.
_Book ii. Chap. xi. Of Cruelty._
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._
Some impose upon the world that they believe that which they do not; others, more in number, make themselves believe that they believe, not being able to penetrate into what it is to believe.
_Book ii. Chap. xii. Apology for Raimond Sebond._
When I play with my cat, who knows whether I do not make her more sport than she makes me?
_Book ii. Chap. xii. Apology for Raimond Sebond._
'T is one and the same Nature that rolls on her course, and whoever has sufficiently considered the present state of things might certainly conclude as to both the future and the past.[776-1]
_Book ii. Chap. xii. Apology for Raimond Sebond._
The souls of emperors and cobblers are cast in the same mould. . . . The same reason that makes us wrangle with a neighbour causes a war betwixt princes.
_Book ii. Chap. xii. Apology for Raimond Sebond._
Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a worm, and yet he will be making gods by dozens.
_Book ii. Chap. xii. Apology for Raimond Sebond._
Why may not a goose say thus: "All the parts of the universe I have an interest in: the earth serves me to walk upon, the sun to light me; the stars have their influence upon me; I have such an advantage by the winds and such by the waters; there is nothing that yon heavenly roof looks upon so favourably as me. I am the darling of Nature! Is it not man that keeps and serves me?"[776-2]
_Book ii. Chap. xii. Apology for Raimond Sebond._
Arts and sciences are not cast in a mould, but are formed and perfected by degrees, by often handling and polishing, as bears leisurely lick their cubs into form.[776-3]
_Book ii. Chap. xii. Apology for Raimond Sebond._
He that I am reading seems always to have the most force.
_Book ii. Chap. xii. Apology for Raimond Sebond._
Apollo said that every one's true worship was that which he found in use in the place where he chanced to be.[777-1]
_Book ii. Chap. xii. Apology for Raimond Sebond._
How many worthy men have we seen survive their own reputation![777-2]
_Book ii. Chap. xvi. Of Glory._
The mariner of old said to Neptune in a great tempest, "O God! thou mayest save me if thou wilt, and if thou wilt thou mayest destroy me; but whether or no, I will steer my rudder true."[777-3]
_Book ii. Chap. xvi. Of Glory._
One may be humble out of pride.
_Book ii. Chap. xvii. Of Presumption._
I find that the best virtue I have has in it some tincture of vice.
_Book ii. Chap. xx. That we taste nothing pure._
Saying is one thing, doing another.
_Book ii. Chap. xxxi. Of Anger._
Is it not a noble farce, wherein kings, republics, and emperors have for so many ages played their parts, and to which the whole vast universe serves for a theatre?[777-4]
_Book ii. Chap. xxxvi. Of the most Excellent Men._
Nature forms us for ourselves, not for others; to be, not to seem.
_Book ii. Chap. xxxvii. Of the Resemblance of Children to their Brothers._
There never was in the world two opinions alike, no more than two hairs or two grains; the most universal quality is diversity.[777-5]
_Book ii. Chap. xxxvii. Of the Resemblance of Children to their Fathers._
The public weal requires that men should betray and lie and massacre.
_Book iii. Chap. i. Of Profit and Honesty._
Like rowers, who advance backward.[777-6]
_Book iii. Chap. i. Of Profit and Honesty._
I speak truth, not so much as I would, but as much as I dare; and I dare a little the more as I grow older.
_Book iii. Chap ii. Of Repentance._
Few men have been admired by their own domestics.[778-1]
_Book iii. Chap. ii. Of Repentance._
It happens as with cages: the birds without despair to get in, and those within despair of getting out.[778-2]
_Book iii. Chap. v. Upon some Verses of Virgil._
And to bring in a new word by the head and shoulders, they leave out the old one.
_Book iii. Chap. v. Upon some Verses of Virgil._
All the world knows me in my book, and my book in me.
_Book iii. Chap. v. Upon some Verses of Virgil._
'T is so much to be a king, that he only is so by being so. The strange lustre that surrounds him conceals and shrouds him from us; our sight is there broken and dissipated, being stopped and filled by the prevailing light.[778-3]
_Book iii. Chap. vii. Of the Inconveniences of Greatness._
We are born to inquire after truth; it belongs to a greater power to possess it. It is not, as Democritus said, hid in the bottom of the deeps, but rather elevated to an infinite height in the divine knowledge.[778-4]
_Book iii. Chap. viii. Of the Art of Conversation._
I moreover affirm that our wisdom itself, and wisest consultations, for the most part commit themselves to the conduct of chance.[778-5]
_Book iii. Chap. viii. Of the Art of Conversation._
What if he has borrowed the matter and spoiled the form, as it oft falls out?[778-6]
_Book iii. Chap. viii. Of the Art of Conversation._
The oldest and best known evil was ever more supportable than one that was new and untried.[778-7]
_Book iii. Chap. ix. Of Vanity._
Not because Socrates said so, . . . I look upon all men as my compatriots.
_Book iii. Chap. ix. Of Vanity._
My appetite comes to me while eating.[779-1]
_Book iii. Chap. ix. Of Vanity._
There is no man so good, who, were he to submit all his thoughts and actions to the laws, would not deserve hanging ten times in his life.
_Book iii. Chap. ix. Of Vanity._
Saturninus said, "Comrades, you have lost a good captain to make him an ill general."
_Book iii. Chap. ix. Of Vanity._
A little folly is desirable in him that will not be guilty of stupidity.[779-2]
_Book iii. Chap. ix. Of Vanity._
Habit is a second nature.[779-3]
_Book iii. Chap. x._
We seek and offer ourselves to be gulled.
_Book iii. Chap. xi. Of Cripples._
I have never seen a greater monster or miracle in the world than myself.
_Book iii. Chap. xi. Of Cripples._
Men are most apt to believe what they least understand.
_Book iii. Chap. xi. Of Cripples._
I have here only made a nosegay of culled flowers, and have brought nothing of my own but the thread that ties them together.
_Book iii. Chap. xii. Of Physiognomy._
Amongst so many borrowed things, I am glad if I can steal one, disguising and altering it for some new service.[779-4]
_Book iii. Chap. xii. Of Physiognomy._
I am further of opinion that it would be better for us to have [no laws] at all than to have them in so prodigious numbers as we have.
_Book iii. Chap. xiii. Of Experience._
There is more ado to interpret interpretations than to interpret the things, and more books upon books than upon all other subjects; we do nothing but comment upon one another.
_Book iii. Chap. xiii. Of Experience._
For truth itself has not the privilege to be spoken at all times and in all sorts.
_Book iii. Chap. xiii. Of Experience._
The diversity of physical arguments and opinions embraces all sorts of methods.
_Book iii. Chap. xiii. Of Experience._
Let us a little permit Nature to take her own way; she better understands her own affairs than we.
_Book iii. Chap. xiii. Of Experience._
I have ever loved to repose myself, whether sitting or lying, with my heels as high or higher than my head.
_Book iii. Chap. xiii. Of Experience._
I, who have so much and so universally adored this ariston metron, "excellent mediocrity,"[780-1] of ancient times, and who have concluded the most moderate measure the most perfect, shall I pretend to an unreasonable and prodigious old age?
_Book iii. Chap. xiii. Of Experience._
FOOTNOTES:
[774-1] This book of Montaigne the world has indorsed by translating it into all tongues, and printing seventy-five editions of it in Europe.--EMERSON: _Representative Men. Montaigne._
[774-2] See Plutarch, page 730.
[774-3] See Raleigh, page 25.
Curae leves loquuntur ingentes stupent (Light griefs are loquacious, but the great are dumb).--SENECA: _Hippolytus, ii. 3, 607._
[774-4] See Sidney, page 264.
Mendacem memorem esse oportere (To be a liar, memory is necessary).--QUINTILIAN: _iv. 2, 91._
[774-5] See Tickell, page 313.
[774-6] See Burton, page 187.
[774-7] See Bacon, page 171.
[775-1] See Dryden, page 267.
[775-2] See Shakespeare, page 141.
[775-3] See Shakespeare, page 64.
[775-4] ARISTOTLE: _Ethics, ix. 7._
[775-5] See Milton, page 255.
[776-1] See Plutarch, page 726.
[776-2] See Pope, page 318.
[776-3] See Burton, page 186.
[777-1] XENOPHON: _Mem. Socratis, i. 3, 1._
[777-2] See Bentley, page 284.
[777-3] SENECA: _Epistle 85._
[777-4] See Shakespeare, page 69.
[777-5] See Browne, page 218.
[777-6] See Burton, page 186.
[778-1] See Plutarch, page 740.
[778-2] See Davies, page 176.
[778-3] See Tennyson, page 629.
[778-4] LACTANTIUS: _Divin. Instit. iii. 28._
[778-5] Although men flatter themselves with their great actions, they are not so often the result of great design as of chance.--ROCHEFOUCAULD: _Maxim 57._
[778-6] See Churchill, page 413.
[778-7] LIVY, _xxiii. 3._
[779-1] See Rabelais, page 771.
[779-2] See Walpole, page 389.
[779-3] See Shakespeare, page 44.
[779-4] See Churchill, page 413.
[780-1] See Cowper, page 424.
DU BARTAS. 1544-1590.
(_From his "Divine Weekes and Workes," translated by J. Sylvester._)
The world 's a stage[780-2] where God's omnipotence, His justice, knowledge, love, and providence Do act the parts.
_First Week, First Day._
And reads, though running,[780-3] all these needful motions.
_First Week, First Day._
Mercy and justice, marching cheek by joule.
_First Week, First Day._
Not unlike the bear which bringeth forth In the end of thirty dayes a shapeless birth; But after licking, it in shape she drawes, And by degrees she fashions out the pawes, The head, and neck, and finally doth bring To a perfect beast that first deformed thing.[780-4]
_First Week, First Day._
What is well done is done soon enough.
_First Week, First Day._
And swans seem whiter if swart crowes be by.
_First Week, First Day._
Night's black mantle covers all alike.[781-1]
_First Week, First Day._
Hot and cold, and moist and dry.[781-2]
_First Week, Second Day._
Much like the French (or like ourselves, their apes), Who with strange habit do disguise their shapes; Who loving novels, full of affectation, Receive the manners of each other nation.[781-3]
_First Week, Second Day._
With tooth and nail.
_First Week, Second Day._
From the foure corners of the worlde doe haste.[781-4]
_First Week, Second Day._
Oft seen in forehead of the frowning skies.[781-5]
_First Week, Second Day._
From north to south, from east to west.[781-6]
_First Week, Second Day._
Bright-flaming, heat-full fire, The source of motion.[781-7]
_First Week, Second Day._
Not that the earth doth yield In hill or dale, in forest or in field, A rarer plant.[781-8]
_First Week, Third Day._
'T is what you will,--or will be what you would.
_First Week, Third Day._
Or savage beasts upon a thousand hils.[781-9]
_First Week, Third Day._
To man the earth seems altogether No more a mother, but a step-dame rather.[782-1]
_First Week, Third Day._
For where 's the state beneath the firmament That doth excel the bees for government?[782-2]
_First Week, Fifth Day,