So it is no good our mounting on stilts, for even on stilts we have to walk with our own legs; and upon the most exalted throne in the world it is still our own bottom that we sit on.

[Si, avons nous beau monter sur des échasses, car sur des échasses encore faut-il marcher de nos jambes. Et au plus élevé trône du monde, si ne sommes assis que sur notre cul.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) French essayist

Essay (1587), “Of Experience [De l’Experience], Essays, Book 3, ch. 13 (3.13) (1595) [tr. Cohen (1958)]
    (Source)

This essay first appeared in the 2nd (1588) edition, but this passage was added for the 1595 edition.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Wee may long enough get upon stilts, for, be we upon them, yet must we goe with our owne legges. And sit we upon the highest throne of the World, yet fit we upon our owne taile.
[tr. Florio (1603)]

'Tis to much purpose to go upon Stilts, for when upon Stilts, we must yet walk upon our Legs: And when seated upon the most elevated Throne in the World, we are but seated upon our Breech.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

’Tis to much purpose to go upon stilts, for, when upon stilts, we must yet walk with our legs; and, when seated upon the most elevated throne in the world, we are but seated upon our breech.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]

Much good does it do us to mount on stilts, for on stilts we must still walk with our legs; and on the loftiest throne in the world we sit only on our buttocks.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

So it is no use to mount upon stilts, for even on stilts we must walk with our own legs. And even on the most exalted throne in the world we are only sitting on our own bottom.
[tr. Zeitlin (1934)]

Yet there is no use our mounting on stilts, for on stilts we must still walk on our own legs. And on the loftiest throne in the world we are still sitting only on our own rump.
[tr. Frame (1943)]

A fine thing to get up on stilts, for even on stilts we must ever walk on our legs! And upon the highest throne in the world, we are seated, still, upon our arses.
[tr. Screech (1987)]

No matter that we may mount on stilts, we still must walk on our own legs. And on the highest throne in the world, we still sit only on our own bottom.
[Bartlett's]