Title page from Essays of Montaigne, Vol. 1

Part of: Essays of Montaigne, in 10 vols. Essays of Montaigne, Vol. 1

Volume 1 of a 10 volume collection of Montaigne’s famous essays in the 17th century English translation by Charles Cotton.

Key Quotes

Presidents, Kings, Tyrants, & Despots

Amongst those laws that relate to the dead, I look upon that to be very sound by which the actions of princes are to be examined after their decease. They are equals with, if not masters of the laws, and, therefore, what justice could not inflict upon their persons, ’tis but reason should be…

The State

Such people as have been bred up to liberty, and subject to no other dominion but the authority of their own will, look upon all other form of government as monstrous and contrary to nature. Those who are inured to [260] monarchy do the same; and what opportunity soever fortune presents them with…