Pierre Charron Quotes
Pierre Charron was a French Catholic priest, preacher, and philosopher and the principal successor of Montaigne in the late Renaissance tradition of Christian skepticism. After many years as a celebrated preacher, he was admitted in late life to Montaigne's intimate circle and, after his friend's death, drew on the Essays in the composition of his own Of Wisdom, published in 1601. The quotes below are attributed to Pierre Charron, organized by topic.
Browse Pierre Charron by topic
Pierre Charron on Freedom
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Attributed to Pierre Charron:
“The wise person preserves the freedom of judgment in all things.”
Pierre Charron on God
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Attributed to Pierre Charron:
“Religion and morality are distinct: the just person of any creed is a true person.”
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“Great towns are but a large sort of prison to the soul, like cages to birds, or pounds to beasts.”
p. 82 ( Cities )
Pierre Charron on Happiness
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“Pleasure and pain, though directly opposite, are yet so contrived by nature as to be constant companions; and it is a fact that the same motions and muscles of the face are employed both in laughing and crying.”
p. 161 ( Extremes ) -
“To owe an obligation to a worthy friend is a happiness, and can be no disparagement.”
Treasury of Thought(1881) | p. 367 ( Obligation )
Pierre Charron on Justice
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“It is certainly much easier wholly to decline a passion than to keep it within just bounds and measures; and that which few can moderate almost anybody may prevent.”
Treasury of Thought(1881) | p. 463 ( Self-denial )
Pierre Charron on Knowledge
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Attributed to Pierre Charron:
“Self-knowledge is the foundation of all wisdom.”
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“La vraie science et le vrai étude de l'homme c'est l'homme.”
The proper Science and Subject for Man's Contemplation is Man himself. | Book I, Ch. 1. Stanhope 's translation, reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1922) p. 488. Different translation in H. L. Mencken (ed.) A New Dictionary of Quotations on Historical Principles ( 1960) p. 739: "The true science and study of man is man. -
“The proper Science and Subject for Man's Contemplation is Man himself.”
La vraie science et le vrai étude de l'homme c'est l'homme. -
“Book I, Ch. 1. Stanhope 's translation, reported in Hoyt's New Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations (1922) p. 488. Different translation in H. L. Mencken (ed.) A New Dictionary of Quotations on Historical Principles ( 1960) p. 739: "The true science and study of man is man.”
La vraie science et le vrai étude de l'homme c'est l'homme. -
“All Religions have this in common, that they are an outrage to common sense for they are pieced together out of a variety of elements, some of which seem so unworthy, sordid and at odds with man’s reason, that any strong and vigorous intelligence laughs at them; but others are so noble, illustrious, miraculous, and mysterious that the intellect can make no sense of them and finds them unpalatable.”
Book II, Ch. 5, p. 345. Reported in Michael Hunter and David Wootton (eds.) Atheism from the Reformation to the Enlightenment (1992) p. 99 -
“Those who have nothing else to recommend them to the respect of others but only their blood, cry it up at a great rate, and have their mouths perpetually full of it. They swell and vapor, and you are sure to hear of their families and relations every third word.”
p. 22 ( Ancestry ) -
“The certain way to be cheated is to fancy one's self more cunning than others.”
p. 86 ( Conceit ) -
“Despair is like forward children, who, when you take away one of their playthings, throw the rest into the fire for madness. It grows angry with itself, turns its own executioner, and revenges its misfortunes on its own head.”
p. 123 ( Despair ) -
“Wise men mingle mirth with their cares, as a help either to forget or overcome them; but to resort to intoxication for the ease of one's mind is to cure melancholy by madness.”
Treasury of Thought(1881) | p. 268 ( Intemperance )
Pierre Charron on Nature
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Attributed to Pierre Charron:
“True wisdom is to live according to nature and reason, not custom.”
Pierre Charron on Truth
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Attributed to Pierre Charron:
“Doubt rightly held is the sister of certainty.”
Pierre Charron on Virtue
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“He who receives a good turn should never forget it; he who does one should never remember it.”
p. 213 ( Gratitude )