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A review by indefati9able
The Complete Works by Michel Montaigne
5.0
A 16th century man who feels his 56 years of age is quite old and thinks it's close to the end:
"Whoever saw old age that did not applaud the past and condemn the present?" –Montaigne
A sufferer of kidney stones, who doesn't like doctors that much and has serious distrust for and mildly adverse view of medicine, which he sees it as an "art" more than science:
"The art of medicine is not so fixed that we are without authority, no matter what we do; it changes according to the climates and according to the moons, according to Fernel and according to L'Escale. If your doctor does not think it good for you to sleep, to drink wine, or to eat such-and-such a food, don't worry: I'll find you another who will not agree with him." –Montaigne
At times, a seemingly humblebragging philosopher who opine on almost every topic he can think of within a single essay:
"Both kings and philosophers defecate, and ladies too." –Montaigne
Lover of Plutarch, Socrates, Horace, Cicero, and Virgil. Admirer of "the most outstanding men": Homer, Caesar, and Epaminondas.
"Mingle a dash of folly with your wisdom." –Horace
"Those who flee Venus too much sin no less / Than those who do pursue her to excess." –Plutarch
Master quoter who sometimes complains about other people who excessively or unnecessarily quote great minds.
"I quote others only in order the better to express myself." –Montaigne
"If it is unbecoming to me, as I believe it is, no matter; it may be useful to someone else." –Montaigne
A learned man who still can hail from five hundred years away as loudly and clearly as any wise man or woman of today, if there are any.
"Que sçais-je?" –Montaigne
A humble but beautiful mind with dizzyingly meandering opinions and thoughts which nonetheless elegantly culminate centuries of wisdom before his, and eventually leading to their "Rome" like all roads of yesterday did and still do today.
"The great and glorious masterpiece of man is to live with purpose." –Montaigne
And, lastly, I shall forever imagine Montaigne's voice as Christopher Lane's distinguished and carrying voice with the eloquent language of Donald M. Frame. A superb performance and peerless translation.
"The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness." –Montaigne
Happy reading and listening. I hope you'll enjoy it too. Here are two quotes from yours truly because I too believe they do better at expressing myself:
"Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone." –Horace
"Books delight to the very marrow of one's bones. They speak to us, consult with us, and join with us in a living and intense intimacy." –Plutarch
"Whoever saw old age that did not applaud the past and condemn the present?" –Montaigne
A sufferer of kidney stones, who doesn't like doctors that much and has serious distrust for and mildly adverse view of medicine, which he sees it as an "art" more than science:
"The art of medicine is not so fixed that we are without authority, no matter what we do; it changes according to the climates and according to the moons, according to Fernel and according to L'Escale. If your doctor does not think it good for you to sleep, to drink wine, or to eat such-and-such a food, don't worry: I'll find you another who will not agree with him." –Montaigne
At times, a seemingly humblebragging philosopher who opine on almost every topic he can think of within a single essay:
"Both kings and philosophers defecate, and ladies too." –Montaigne
Lover of Plutarch, Socrates, Horace, Cicero, and Virgil. Admirer of "the most outstanding men": Homer, Caesar, and Epaminondas.
"Mingle a dash of folly with your wisdom." –Horace
"Those who flee Venus too much sin no less / Than those who do pursue her to excess." –Plutarch
Master quoter who sometimes complains about other people who excessively or unnecessarily quote great minds.
"I quote others only in order the better to express myself." –Montaigne
"If it is unbecoming to me, as I believe it is, no matter; it may be useful to someone else." –Montaigne
A learned man who still can hail from five hundred years away as loudly and clearly as any wise man or woman of today, if there are any.
"Que sçais-je?" –Montaigne
A humble but beautiful mind with dizzyingly meandering opinions and thoughts which nonetheless elegantly culminate centuries of wisdom before his, and eventually leading to their "Rome" like all roads of yesterday did and still do today.
"The great and glorious masterpiece of man is to live with purpose." –Montaigne
And, lastly, I shall forever imagine Montaigne's voice as Christopher Lane's distinguished and carrying voice with the eloquent language of Donald M. Frame. A superb performance and peerless translation.
"The most certain sign of wisdom is cheerfulness." –Montaigne
Happy reading and listening. I hope you'll enjoy it too. Here are two quotes from yours truly because I too believe they do better at expressing myself:
"Wisdom is not wisdom when it is derived from books alone." –Horace
"Books delight to the very marrow of one's bones. They speak to us, consult with us, and join with us in a living and intense intimacy." –Plutarch