Saying is one thing, doing another. We must consider the sermon and the preacher distinctly and apart.

Montaigne draws a sharp line between words and deeds, warning against judging moral truth by the moral performance of the person who utters it. A “sermon” (the teaching, argument, or principle) may be sound even if the “preacher” fails to live up to it; conversely, a seemingly admirable speaker may offer hollow counsel. The remark reflects Montaigne’s broader skepticism about human consistency and his habit of testing lofty claims against the realities of conduct. It also anticipates a practical ethic: evaluate ideas on their merits, but evaluate people by their actions—without confusing the two.