“Four Essays” – Michel De Montaigne

On Cannibalism

…there is nothing savage or barbarous about these peoples, but that every man calls barbarous anything he is not accustomed to; it is indeed the case that we have no other criterion for right-reason other than the example and form of opinions and customs of our own country.

… Victoria nulla est Quam que confessos animo qouque subjugat hostes. - There is no victory unless you subjugate the minds of the enemy and make them admit defeat.

… For to punish them for having done wrong would, as Plato says, be stupid: what is done cannot be undone. The intention is to stop them from repeating the same mistake or to make others avoid their error. We do not improve the man we hang: we improve others by him.

… I like and honour and erudition as much as those who have it. When used properly it is the most noble and powerful acquisition of Man. But in the kind of men (and their number is infinite) who make it the base and foundation of their worth and achievement, who quit their understanding for memory, “sub aliena umbra latents” [hiding behind other men’s shadows.], and can do nothing except by book, I loathe (dare I say it?) a little more that I loathe stupidity.

…the gravity, academic robes and rank of the man who is speaking often lend credence to arguments which are vain and silly.

… Each outstanding man is raised by good fortune; we then say that he is clever.