500 Quotations from the Great Philosophers of the 16th Century

Miguel de Cervantes (1547 – 1616) was born in Spain and went on to become one of the most important figures in Spanish literature. His use of colloquialism and ordinary speech challenged the overblown structures of traditional literature of the time. Michel de Montaigne (1533 – 1592) was a French philosopher who pioneered the use of essays as a literary device. Niccolò Machiavelli (1469 – 1527) was an Italian diplomat and philosopher who condoned the use of unscrupulous means in politics. Born in Italy, Leonardo da Vinci (1452 – 1519) was an artist, inventor, scientist, and sculptor, who is best known for painting the 'Mona Lisa,' while Francis Bacon (1909 – 1992) is best known as an existential artist.