Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 2, ch. 37 (2.37), “Of the Resemblance of Children to their Fathers [De la ressemblance des enfans aux peres]” (1579–1580) [tr. Screech (1987)]

Dave — Wed, 04 Nov 2026 23:13:43 +0000

But doctors are lucky: the sun shines on their successes and the earth hides their failures.

[Mais ils ont cet heur, que le soleil esclaire leur succez, & la terre cache leur faute.]

Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592) French essayist
Essays, Book 2, ch. 37 (2.37), “Of the Resemblance of Children to their Fathers [De la ressemblance des enfans aux peres]” (1579–1580) [tr. Screech (1987)]

The phrase is not original to Montaigne, but he popularized it. The above is how this was rendered in the 1st (1580) edition; with the 2nd (1588) edition onward, he gave credit to one Nicocles (adding "selon Nicocles [according to Nicocles]" after the comma/colon break.

The fragment by Nicocles [Νικοκλῆς] (it is unclear who of that name is referenced) can be found in The Collection of the Monks Antonius and Maximus [Sententiarum sive Capitum, Theologicorum praecipue, ex Sacris et Profanis Libris, Tomi Tres], ch. 146, usually included at the end of Stobaeus.

See also Wright (1930).

(Source (French)). Other translations:

[Physitions] have this happe, That the Sunne doth manifest their successe, and the earth doth cover their fault.
[tr. Florio (1603)]

But physicians have this advantage, "That the sun gives light to their success, and teh earth covers their miscarriages."
[tr. Cotton (1686)]

But they [physicians] have this advantage, that the sun gives light to their success and the earth covers their failures.
[tr. Cotton/Hazlitt (1877)]

But [doctors] have this advantage, that the sun lights up their successes and the earth hides their failures.
[tr. Ives (1925)]

But [physicians] have this good luck: that the sun shines on their successes, and the earth covers their failures.
[tr. Zeitlin (1934)]

But [doctors] have this luck, that the sun shines on their successes, and the earth hides their failures.
[tr. Frame (1943)]

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 4, Mort (1987)

Dave — Sat, 07 Feb 2026 00:49:27 +0000

“I’ve never seen Death actually at work.”
“Not many have,” said Albert. “Not twice, at any rate.”

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author
Discworld No. 4, Mort (1987)

Mort and Albert.

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 13, Small Gods (1992)

Dave — Wed, 13 May 2015 11:44:00 +0000

Time is a drug. Too much of it kills you.

Terry Pratchett (1948–2015) English author
Discworld No. 13, Small Gods (1992)

WIST Quotations

Montaigne, Michel de -- Essays, Book 2, ch. 37 (2.37), “Of the Resemblance of Children to their Fathers [De la ressemblance des enfans aux peres]” (1579–1580) [tr. Screech (1987)]

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 4, Mort (1987)

Pratchett, Terry -- Discworld No. 13, Small Gods (1992)