Quotation by Michel de Montaigne

More Quotes From

Additional Sources

"A Consideration Upon Cicero" The Essays (Les Essais), bk. I, ch. 40, Simon Millanges, Bordeaux, first edition (1580)"A Consideration Upon Cicero" The Essays (Les Essais), bk. I, ch. 40, Abel Langelier, Paris (1595)"A Custom of the Island of Cea" The Essays (Les Essais), bk. II, ch. 3, Simon Millanges, Bordeaux, first edition (1580)"A Custom of the Isle of Cea" Essays (1580-1588), trans. by John Florio "An Apology of Raimond Sebond" Essays (1580; trans. by John Florio)

Related Subjects

self (knowledge) hypocrisy (8) truth (8) women (6) love (6) lies (6) lying (6) deceit (4) appearances (4) clothing (4)

The human face is a weak guarantee; yet it deserves some consideration. And if I had to whip the wicked, I would do so more severely to those who belied and betrayed the promises that nature had implanted on their brows; I would punish malice more harshly when it was hidden under a kindly appearance.

Michel de Montaigne

Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592), French essayist. "Of Physiognomy," The Essays (Les Essais), bk. III, ch. 12, Abel Langelier, Paris (1588).

Cite this source Embed this quotation

Surprise me with a

The Columbia World of Quotations © 1996, Columbia University Press.
Licensed from Columbia University Press. All rights reserved. Except as otherwise permitted by written agreement, the following are prohibited: copying substantial portions or the entirety of the work in machine readable form, making multiple printouts thereof, and other uses of the work inconsistent with U.S. and applicable foreign copyright and related laws.

Partners:Word Bloglines Citysearch The Daily Beast Ask Answers Ask Kids Life123 Reference Sendori