Michel Eyquem de Montaigne: Heir
on Thursday, July 23, 2020Michel Eyquem de Montaigne Money Quote saying you can’t believe crying when an heir is the one crying. Michel Eyquem de Montaigne said:
“The weeping of an heir is laughter in disguise” — Michel Eyquem de Montaigne
Share the Michel Eyquem de Montaigne Money quote image above on your site:
Short Link to this Quote:
In this quote, Michel Eyquem de Montaigne seems to be making a cynical observation about how heirs may not genuinely mourn the deceased but are instead secretly pleased to inherit wealth and property.
By stating an heir’s “weeping is laughter in disguise”, Montaigne implies that tears shed for a relative who has passed on could be disingenuous, and may actually conceal private satisfaction over coming into an inheritance.
The quote conveys Montaigne’s perspective that heirs have an incentive to put on a display of sadness for social expectations, while their grief may be more about gaining an inheritance than losing a family member.
Overall, Montaigne appears to be suggesting the passing of a relative can represent both loss and hidden personal gain for those set to inherit substantial assets or titles from the deceased.