“ Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a worm, and yet he will be making gods by dozens. ”
Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Michel de Montaigne (1580). copy citation
| Author | Michel de Montaigne |
|---|---|
| Source | The Essays of Michel de Montaigne |
| Topic | madness gods creation |
| Date | 1580 |
| Language | English |
| Reference | |
| Note | Translated by Charles Cotton |
| Weblink | http://www.gutenberg.org/files/3600/3600-h/3600-h.htm |
Context
“The Thracians, in return of the benefits they had received from Agesilaus, came to bring him word that they had canonized him: «Has your nation,» said he to them, «the power to make gods of whom they please? Pray first deify some one amongst yourselves, and when I shall see what advantage he has by it, I will thank you for your offer.» Man is certainly stark mad; he cannot make a worm, and yet he will be making gods by dozens. Hear Trismegistus in praise of our sufficiency: «Of all the wonderful things, it surmounts all wonder that man could find out the divine nature and make it.» And take here the arguments of the school of philosophy itself:—”
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