Ghost of Montaigne
@ghostofmontaigne.bsky.social
The human condition since 1580. Essayist, ex-mayor (Bordeaux), ex-lawyer, ex-diplomat. Girl dad. What do I know?
Pinned
Each man is as well or as badly off as he thinks he is. Not the man of whom it is thought, but the one who thinks it himself, is happy. And by just this fact belief gains reality and truth.
great day at the tower
July 3, 2025 at 1:40 PM
great day at the tower
If I have a mind to laugh at a fool, I do not have to look far for one, I laugh at myself.
July 1, 2025 at 1:45 PM
If I have a mind to laugh at a fool, I do not have to look far for one, I laugh at myself.
But I do not believe that God would favor so unjust an enterprise as to injure and pick a quarrel with others for our own convienence
July 1, 2025 at 1:33 PM
But I do not believe that God would favor so unjust an enterprise as to injure and pick a quarrel with others for our own convienence
Indeed a foreign war is much milder evil than a civil war.
July 1, 2025 at 1:32 PM
Indeed a foreign war is much milder evil than a civil war.
There are many in our times who …wishing that this heated passion that is among us might be deflected into some war with our neighbors, for fear that these peccant humors which dominate our body at the moment, if they are not drained off elsewhere may…bring on our total ruin.
July 1, 2025 at 1:31 PM
There are many in our times who …wishing that this heated passion that is among us might be deflected into some war with our neighbors, for fear that these peccant humors which dominate our body at the moment, if they are not drained off elsewhere may…bring on our total ruin.
🗃️ Natures that are bloodthirsty toward animals give proof of a natural propensity toward cruelty.
January 23, 2025 at 7:15 AM
🗃️ Natures that are bloodthirsty toward animals give proof of a natural propensity toward cruelty.
🗃️I cruelly hate cruelty, both by nature and by judgement, as the extreme of all vices.
January 23, 2025 at 7:14 AM
🗃️I cruelly hate cruelty, both by nature and by judgement, as the extreme of all vices.
🗃️ the easy, gentle, and sloping path that guides the footsteps of good natural disposition is not the path of true virtue. It demands a rough and thorny road.
January 22, 2025 at 5:02 AM
🗃️ the easy, gentle, and sloping path that guides the footsteps of good natural disposition is not the path of true virtue. It demands a rough and thorny road.
🗃️ 2/2 To those who, in this extremity, were escorting him to the public square he spoke: That it was too easy and cowardly a thing to do evil, and that to do good when there was no danger was common; but to do good where there was danger was the proper duty of a virtuous man.
January 22, 2025 at 4:57 AM
🗃️ 2/2 To those who, in this extremity, were escorting him to the public square he spoke: That it was too easy and cowardly a thing to do evil, and that to do good when there was no danger was common; but to do good where there was danger was the proper duty of a virtuous man.
🗃️ 1/2 Metellus alone, of all the Roman senators, undertook by the power of his virtues to withstand the power of Saturninus, tribune of the people at Rome, who wanted at all costs to get an unjust law passed in favor of the common people and thereby incurred the capital penalties
January 22, 2025 at 4:53 AM
🗃️ 1/2 Metellus alone, of all the Roman senators, undertook by the power of his virtues to withstand the power of Saturninus, tribune of the people at Rome, who wanted at all costs to get an unjust law passed in favor of the common people and thereby incurred the capital penalties
🗃️ What is more barbarous to see than a nation where by lawful custom the charge of judging is sold, and judgements are paid for in ready cash, and where justice is lawfully refused to whoever has not the wherewithal to pay.
January 17, 2025 at 6:21 AM
🗃️ What is more barbarous to see than a nation where by lawful custom the charge of judging is sold, and judgements are paid for in ready cash, and where justice is lawfully refused to whoever has not the wherewithal to pay.
🗃️ An annoying malady, to think yourself so wise that you persuade yourself that no one can believe the contrary!
January 14, 2025 at 5:00 AM
🗃️ An annoying malady, to think yourself so wise that you persuade yourself that no one can believe the contrary!
🗃️ How many trades and vocations have we seen accepted, the essence of which is vicious!
January 14, 2025 at 4:59 AM
🗃️ How many trades and vocations have we seen accepted, the essence of which is vicious!
🗃️ We go on ever fattening this pile and increasing it with one sum after another, until we deprive ourselves sordidly of the enjoyment of our own possessions and place our only joy in keeping them and not using them.
What's the point of being rich if you can't afford to do the right thing.
January 13, 2025 at 11:25 PM
🗃️ We go on ever fattening this pile and increasing it with one sum after another, until we deprive ourselves sordidly of the enjoyment of our own possessions and place our only joy in keeping them and not using them.
🗃️ I dislike to see a man cross himself three times at the Benedicite, and as often at the Grace, and meanwhile see him all the other hours of the day occupied with hatred, avarice and injustice.
January 13, 2025 at 5:48 AM
🗃️ I dislike to see a man cross himself three times at the Benedicite, and as often at the Grace, and meanwhile see him all the other hours of the day occupied with hatred, avarice and injustice.
🗃️ We pray out of habit and custom, or to speak more correctly, we read or pronounce our prayers. All in all it is only an act.
January 13, 2025 at 5:45 AM
🗃️ We pray out of habit and custom, or to speak more correctly, we read or pronounce our prayers. All in all it is only an act.
🗃️ It is a marvelous testimony of the weakness of our judgement that it recommends things for their rarity or novelty, or even for their difficulty, even if they are neither good nor useful.
January 4, 2025 at 7:11 AM
🗃️ It is a marvelous testimony of the weakness of our judgement that it recommends things for their rarity or novelty, or even for their difficulty, even if they are neither good nor useful.
🗃️ In truth, it is not want, but rather abundance, that breeds avarice.
Remember the concept of “fuck you” money? Meaning if you have enough you don’t have to worry about pleasing anyone?
Today, the wealthiest people in the world still feel the need to prostrate themselves to Trump
Because, for them, no amount of money is enough
Today, the wealthiest people in the world still feel the need to prostrate themselves to Trump
Because, for them, no amount of money is enough
January 3, 2025 at 11:47 PM
🗃️ In truth, it is not want, but rather abundance, that breeds avarice.
🗃️ Fear is even more unwelcome and unbearable than death itself.
December 31, 2024 at 7:23 AM
🗃️ Fear is even more unwelcome and unbearable than death itself.
🗃️ Those who are in pressing fear of losing their property, of being exiled, of being subjugated, live inconstant anguish, losing even the capacity to drink, eat, and rest; whereas the poor, the exiles, and the slaves often live as joyfully as other men.
December 31, 2024 at 7:22 AM
🗃️ Those who are in pressing fear of losing their property, of being exiled, of being subjugated, live inconstant anguish, losing even the capacity to drink, eat, and rest; whereas the poor, the exiles, and the slaves often live as joyfully as other men.
Dionysius the Elder was a very great leader in war, as befitted his rank; but he labored to recommend himself principally by poetry, about which he knew nothing.
December 30, 2024 at 4:33 AM
Dionysius the Elder was a very great leader in war, as befitted his rank; but he labored to recommend himself principally by poetry, about which he knew nothing.
🗃️ 2/2 His exploits sufficiently prove him an excellent captain; he wants to make himself known as an excellent engineer, a somewhat different matter.
December 30, 2024 at 4:31 AM
🗃️ 2/2 His exploits sufficiently prove him an excellent captain; he wants to make himself known as an excellent engineer, a somewhat different matter.
🗃️ 1/2 Caesar spreads himself to make us understand his inventions for building bridges and machines, and how he restricts himself where he speaks of the functions of this profession, of his valor and his military conduct.
December 30, 2024 at 4:31 AM
🗃️ 1/2 Caesar spreads himself to make us understand his inventions for building bridges and machines, and how he restricts himself where he speaks of the functions of this profession, of his valor and his military conduct.
🗃️ 2/2 Most often the opposite happens: each man chooses to hold forth on another man's occupation rather than his own, thinking that this is so much new reputation acquired; witness the reproach Achidamus made to Periander, that he was abandoning the glory of a good doctor for that of a bad poet.
December 30, 2024 at 4:27 AM
🗃️ 2/2 Most often the opposite happens: each man chooses to hold forth on another man's occupation rather than his own, thinking that this is so much new reputation acquired; witness the reproach Achidamus made to Periander, that he was abandoning the glory of a good doctor for that of a bad poet.
🗃️ 1/2 In order always to be learning something by communication with others (which is one of the finest schools there can be), I observe in my travels this practice: I always steer those I talk with back to the subjects they know best.
December 30, 2024 at 4:25 AM
🗃️ 1/2 In order always to be learning something by communication with others (which is one of the finest schools there can be), I observe in my travels this practice: I always steer those I talk with back to the subjects they know best.