Kings and philosophers shit; and so do ladies.
[Les rois et les philosophes fientent, et les dames aussi.]
Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 3, ch. 13 (3.13), “Of Experience [De l’Experience]” (1588) [tr. Screech (1987)]
(Source)
First appeared in the 2nd (1588) edition. Because of the earthy nature of this paragraph (this and its following text), some translators (e.g., Ives (1925)) leave it untranslated, in French.
(Source (French)). Other translations:Both Kings and Philosophers obey nature, and go to the stoole, and so doe Ladies.
[tr. Florio (1603)]Both Kings and Philosophers go to stool, and Ladies too.
[tr. Cotton (1686); Cotton/Hazlitt (1877); Zeitlin (1934)]Both kings and philosophers defecate, and ladies too.
[tr. Frame (1943)]Both kings and philosophers defecate, and so do the ladies.
[tr. Cohen (1958)]Both kings and philosophers shit, and ladies do, as well.
[tr. Atkinson/Sices (2012)]
Quotations about:
everyone
Note not all quotations have been tagged, so Search may find additional quotes on this topic.
A thief believes everybody steals.
Edgar Watson "Ed" Howe (1853–1937) American journalist and author [E. W. Howe]
Country Town Sayings (1911)
This family has no outsiders. Everyone is an insider. When Jesus said, “I, if I am lifted up, will draw …” Did he say, “I will draw some”? “I will draw some, and tough luck for the others”? He said, “I, if I be lifted up, will draw all.” All! All! All! — Black, white, yellow; rich, poor; clever, not so clever; beautiful, not so beautiful. All! All! It is radical. All! Saddam Hussein, Osama bin Laden, Bush — all! All! All are to be held in this incredible embrace. Gay, lesbian, so-called “straight;” all! All! All are to be held in the incredible embrace of the love that won’t let us go.
Desmond Tutu (1931–2021) South African cleric, Anglican Archbishop of Cape Town, Nobel Laureate
“And God Smiles,” Sermon, All Saints Church, Pasadena, California (6 Nov 2005)
The Bible passage referenced is John 12:32.
