Miracles arise from our ignorance of nature, not from nature itself.

[Les miracles sont, selon l’ignorance en quoy nous sommes de la nature, non selon l’estre de la nature.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 23 “On Custom and Not Easily Changing an Accepted Law [De la Coustume et de Ne Changer Aisément une Loy Receüe]” (1588-1592) (1.23) (1595) [tr. Lowenthal (1935)]
    (Source)

The original essay is from 1572; this passage was added in the "C" period, prior to Montaigne's death and the final 1595 edition. The Lowenthal translation is from an edited autobiography, drawing from the Essays and other sources.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Miracles are according to the ignorance wherein we are by nature, and not according to nature's essence.
[tr. Florio (1603), ch. 22]

Miracles appear such, according to our ignorance of nature, and not according to the real essence of nature.
[tr. Cotton (1686), ch. 22]

Miracles appear to be so, according to our ignorance of nature, and not according to the essence of nature.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877), ch. 22]

Miracles exist from our ignorance of nature, not in nature herself.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

Miracles arise from our ignorance of nature, not from the essence of nature.
[tr. Frame (1943)]

Miraculous wonders depend on our ignorance of Nature, not on the essence of Nature.
[tr. Screech (1987)]


 
Added on 24-Oct-11 | Last updated 14-Mar-24
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