The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be oneself.

La plus grande chose du monde, c'est de sçavoir estre à soy.

Michel de Montaigne

Essays

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More information about this quote

Topic

Self-knowledge Being oneself Authenticity

Author

Michel de Montaigne

Source

Of Solitude Essays

Medium

Essay

Language

French

Time

1580 1580s 16th century

Era

European Renaissance

Occupation

Philosopher Writer

From

France Europe

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "De La Solitude [Of Solitude]." Essais [Essays]. Paris: Simon Millanges and Jean Richer, 1580.

Current Citation

De Montaigne, Michel. "Of Solitude." The Complete Essays, edited and translated by M. A. Screech. Penguin Classics, 1993.

Illustrated Quote

A quote by Michel de Montaigne about self-knowledge: “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be oneself.”
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A quote by Michel de Montaigne about self-knowledge: “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be oneself.”
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A quote by Michel de Montaigne about self-knowledge: “The greatest thing in the world is to know how to be oneself.”
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Related Quotes

Below are one or more quotes that share at least one tag with the quote at the top of the page

Another quote about Authenticity

Man is the only creature who refuses to be what he is.

Albert Camus

The Rebel

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More information about this quote
Topic
Human nature Being oneself Authenticity The human condition

Author

Albert Camus
Source
The Rebel
Genre
Political literature
Language
French
Time
1951 1950s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Camus, Albert. L'Homme Revolte [The Rebel]. Gallimard, 1951.

Another quote from European Renaissance

Brevity is the soul of wit.

William Shakespeare

Hamlet

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More information about this quote
Topic
Brevity Wit Pithiness
Speaker
Lord Polonius

Author

William Shakespeare
Source
Hamlet
Medium
Play
Genre
Tragedy (play)
Language
English
Time
1616 1610s 17th century
Era
European Renaissance
Authentication Score 2
Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 2, sc. 2.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Hamlet." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 2, sc. 2.

Another quote originally in French

There is but one truly serious philosophical problem, and that is suicide. Judging whether life is or is not worth living amounts to answering the fundamental question of philosophy.

Albert Camus

The Myth of Sisyphus

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More information about this quote
Topic
Suicide Purpose of life Philosophy

Author

Albert Camus
Source
The Myth of Sisyphus
Medium
Essay
Genre
Philosophical literature
Language
French
Time
1942 1940s 20th century
Authentication Score 3
Citation

Camus, Albert. Le Mythe de Sisyphe [The Myth of Sisyphus]. Éditions Gallimard, 1942.