Learning and personal development
Since I would rather make of him an able man than a learned man, I would also urge that care be taken to choose a guide with a well-made rather than a well-filled head.
— Michel de Montaigne (1533–1592), Essais (wr. 1571–92; pub. 1580–95) — Book I, Ch. 26. On the Education of Children

Learning and personal development

What it means

A well-made head that can think matters more than a well-filled one that can only recite. Montaigne prefers capable judgement over stored facts.

About the author

Michel de Montaigne — French author and philosopher (1533–1592).

Source and verification

Source
Essais (wr. 1571–92; pub. 1580–95) — Book I, Ch. 26. On the Education of Children
Reference
Michel de Montaigne on Wikiquote
Checked
Wording and source taken from the sourced section of the author’s Wikiquote page, which cites the work given here (accessed 2026-10-11).
Copyright
Public domain: the author died in 1592.

The explanation above is ToDoMatriX’s own reading of the quote, not the author’s words.

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