WIST Quotations

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 1, ch. 26 (1.26), “It Is Folly to Measure the True and the False by Our Own Capacity [C’est folie de rapporter le vray et le faux à nostre suffisance]” (1572) [tr. Screech (1987), 1.27]

Dave — Wed, 12 Aug 2026 20:35:50 +0000

Why cannot we remember all the contradictions which we feel within our own judgement, and how many things which were articles of belief for us yesterday are fables for us today?

[Que ne nous souvient il combien nous sentons de contradiction en nostre jugement mesmes ? combien de choses nous servoient hyer d’articles de foy, qui nous sont fables aujourd’huy?]

Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 1, ch. 26 (1.26), “It Is Folly to Measure the True and the False by Our Own Capacity [C’est folie de rapporter le vray et le faux à nostre suffisance]” (1572) [tr. Screech (1987), 1.27]
(Source)

In context, Montaigne is arguing here for full faith in the teachings of the Catholic Church, not picking and choosing among them as personal judgment sees fit.

This essay was first published in the 1st (1580) edition. Some translators use the 1588 sequence of chapters, not the 1595, and so identify this as ch. 27.

(Source (French)). Alternate translations:

Why remember we not, what, and how many contradictions we finde and feele even in our owne judgement? Howe many things served-us but yesterday as articles of faith, which to day wee deeme but fables?
[tr. Florio (1603)]

Why do not we recollect what contradiction we find in our own opinions? How many things were articles of faiith yesterday, which to-day we treat as no other than fables.
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

Why do we not consider what contradictions we find in our own judgments; how many things were yesterday articles of our faith, that to-day appear no other than fables?
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]

Why do we not remember how much we are conscious of contradiction in our very judgment? how many things we regarded yesterday as articles of faith which are fables to us to-day?
[tr. Ives (1925), 1.27]

Why do we not remember how much contradiction we sense even in our own judgment? How many things were articles of faith to us yesterday, which are fables to us today?
[tr. Frame (1943), 1.27]

Why do we not remember how many contradictions we find even in our own opinions, how many things we regarded yesterday as articles of faith that seem to us only fables today?
[tr. Cohen (1958), 1.27]

Stevenson, Adlai -- Speech (1952-08-28), “Faith in Liberalism,” State Committee of the Liberal Party, New York City

Dave — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 13:01:00 +0000

Laws are never as effective as habits. The fight for equal rights must go on every day in our own souls and consciences, in our schools and our churches and our homes, in our factories and our offices — as well as in our city councils, our state legislatures and our national Congress.

Adlai Stevenson II (1900–1965) American politician, diplomat, statesman
Speech (1952-08-28), “Faith in Liberalism,” State Committee of the Liberal Party, New York City
(Source)

Adams, John -- Letter (1815-08-24) to Thomas Jefferson

Dave — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 10:26:41 +0000

As to the history of the Revolution, my Ideas may be peculiar, perhaps Singular. What do we mean by the Revolution? The War? That was no part of the Revolution; it was only an Effect and Consequence of it. The Revolution was in the Minds of the People, and this was effected, from 1760 to 1775, in the course of fifteen Years, before a drop of blood was shed at Lexington.

John Adams (1735–1826) American lawyer, Founding Father, statesman, US President (1797–1801)
Letter (1815-08-24) to Thomas Jefferson
(Source)