"Je ne cite les autres que pour mieux m'exprimer."

The core idea here is that we often use the words and ideas of others as a way to articulate our own thoughts and feelings more clearly. It's not about borrowing someone else's brilliance because we're unoriginal; it's about finding the best way to convey our own perspectives.

Historically, this quote can be traced back to Michel de Montaigne, a French Renaissance philosopher known for his reflective essays. Montaigne was essentially the original blogger—he wrote about everything from friendship to death to the human condition. He was a big fan of quoting other writers and philosophers, not to show off his reading habits, but because he found that their words often captured his own feelings better than he could.

Imagine you're trying to explain to a friend why a particular song means so much to you. You might say, "It's like that line from that John Lennon song, 'Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans.' That’s exactly how I feel about my last few years." By quoting Lennon, you’re not just nodding to a famous musician; you’re using his well-crafted words to encapsulate your own experience more precisely.

Now, let's get practical. Think about the last time you were in a heated discussion and just couldn’t find the right words to make your point. Maybe you were talking about the importance of courage in the face of adversity. Instead of fumbling around, you might quote Martin Luther King Jr.: "The ultimate measure of a man is not where he stands in moments of comfort and convenience, but where he stands at times of challenge and controversy." That quote doesn’t just sound good—it powerfully conveys what you’re trying to say and backs it up with the weight of King's authority.

So how can you apply this wisdom? Start by reading widely—books, articles, quotes. Collect the lines that resonate with you. Keep a journal or a notes app handy. When you find yourself at a loss for words, flip through