There was once in man a true happiness of which there now remain to him only the mark and empty trace, which he in vain tries to fill from all his surroundings, seeking from things absent the help he does not obtain in things present.

By a peculiar prerogative, not only each individual is making daily advances in the sciences, and may make advances in morality (which is the science, by way of eminence, of living well and being happy), but all mankind together is making a continual progress in proportion as the universe grows older. So that the whole human race, during the course of so many ages, may be considered as one man who never ceases to live and learn.

It is not good to be too free. It is not good to have all one wants.

A town, a landscape are when seen from afar a town and a landscape; but as one gets nearer, there are houses, trees, tiles leaves, grasses, ants, legs of ants and so on to infinity. All this is subsumed under the name of landscape.

It is not in Montaigne, but in myself, that I find all that I see in him.

If we regulate our conduct according to our own convictions, we may safely disregard the praise or censure of others.

Religion is so great a thing that it is right that those who will not take the trouble to seek it if it be obscure, should be deprived of it.