All the world knows me in my book, and my book in me.
Michel De MontaigneRead
It is not reasonable that art should win the place of honor over our great and powerful mother Nature. We have so overloaded the beauty and richness of her works by our inventions that we have quite smothered her.
Interpretation
What this quote means
This quote emphasizes the superiority of nature over man's artistic creations.
Montaigne argues that while human art is valuable, it should not overshadow the grandeur and beauty of nature. He suggests that our inventions and creations have, in fact, diminished the appreciation of the natural world, which is often more magnificent than our own artistic endeavors.
Themes
NatureArtBeautyCreativityInvention
In practice
Example use cases
This quote could be used in a speech about the importance of environmental conservation.
More from Michel De Montaigne
All quotes →All I say is by way of discourse, and nothing by way of advice. I should not speak so boldly if it were my due to be believed.
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Pythagoras used to say that life resembles the Olympic Games: a few people strain their muscles to carry off a prize; others bring trinkets to sell to the crowd for gain; and some there are, and not the worst, who seek no other profit than to look at the show and see how and why everything is done; spectators of the life of other people in order to judge and regulate their own.
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There is not much less vexation in the government of a private family than in the managing of an entire state.
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Such as are in immediate fear of a losing their estates, of banishment, or of slavery, live in perpetual anguish, and lose all appetite and repose; whereas such as are actually poor, slaves, or exiles, ofttimes live as merrily as other folk.
Michel De MontaigneRead
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