"One may be humble out of pride"
- Michel de Montaigne
About this Quote
This quote by Michel de Montaigne recommends that a person can be simple for the incorrect factors. It implies that an individual may be modest not out of a genuine desire to be humble, however out of pride. This might imply that an individual might be simple in order to appear more virtuous or to get affection from others. It might likewise suggest that a person may be simple in order to make themselves feel remarkable to others. In either case, the individual is not being truly humble, however rather utilizing humbleness as a method to get something for themselves. This quote serves as a pointer that humility must come from an authentic desire to be modest, and not from a desire to get something for oneself.
About the Author