The greatest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to yourself.
Montaigne, Essays 1.39 (Of Solitude)
La plus grande chose du monde c'est de sçauoir estre à soy.
The greatest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to yourself.
Montaigne, Essays 1.39 (Of Solitude)
What it means
Montaigne is not against friends or family, only against being glued to them. You need a self that does not dissolve into other people's needs. Learn to stand on your own inside.
The source
"The greatest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to yourself." Montaigne said it in Essays 1.39 (Of Solitude). Translated from the original French by Spartan Surfers.
"La plus grande chose du monde c'est de sçauoir estre à soy."Original French, Essays 1.39 (Of Solitude). Text read at gutenberg.org.
Who said it
Montaigne (1533–1592). French magistrate who retired to his tower library and invented the essay. His motto was a question: What do I know?
Questions
- What does "The greatest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to yourself." mean?
- Montaigne is not against friends or family, only against being glued to them. You need a self that does not dissolve into other people's needs. Learn to stand on your own inside.
- Who said "The greatest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to yourself."?
- Montaigne (1533–1592). Source: Essays 1.39 (Of Solitude).
- What is the original French?
- La plus grande chose du monde c'est de sçauoir estre à soy. Translated from the original French by Spartan Surfers.
- Is "The greatest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to yourself." on a shirt?
- Yes. We print it to order on our tees in 6 illustrated looks, from $44, with free US shipping.
Cite this line
"The greatest thing in the world is knowing how to belong to yourself." (Montaigne, Essays 1.39 (Of Solitude), translated by Spartan Surfers). https://spartansurfers.com/quotes/the-greatest-thing-in-the-world-is-knowing
Filed under Self.
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More from Montaigne
- Keep a back room of your own.Essays 1.39 (Of Solitude)
- Because it was him. Because it was me.Essays 1.28 (Of Friendship)
- Did nothing today? What, haven't you lived?Essays 3.13 (Of Experience)
- On the highest throne in the world, we still sit on our own backside.Essays 3.13 (Of Experience)
- When I dance, I dance. When I sleep, I sleep.Essays 3.13 (Of Experience)
- Fear suffering and you already suffer what you fear.Essays 3.13 (Of Experience)