Montaigne Essays Notes

Montaigne Essays

·         Born Feb 28, 1533

·         father was Pierre Eyquem, cared about his children's education, m was well educated and multi lingual, went to college of Guienne at 6yrs old

joined military after his oldest brother died

·         wrote essays after retirement from public affairs and continued adding until he died

Pgs 1-120 ch 1-31

·         talks about the death of la bowtie, who is very dear to him and stays with him until his death

·         doesn’t like natural theology

·         naturalist, he enjoys nature and doesn’t like its destruction

·         the death if his friend makes him consider the kind of person he wants to be

·         talks about self-worth probably because the death of his friend hurt him

·         uses a lot of rhetorical questions

·         his job in the government is useless so that is why he quit and rights about it

·         nature is used to show morals

·         something must challenge a soul to know its self-worth because how can it be good if it hasn’t been challenged by evil

·         m is very religious and believes you will be watched over even after death

·         in society women are supposed to be feminine, they need elegance

·         manners and etiquette are required in society, it keeps everyone social and formal

·         m thinks that philosophy is not beneficial, I think this is because he is so religious. In my opinion philosophy is beneficial and lets one contemplate

·         There must be a balance in the world. For one person to get something it must be taken away from another. I agree with this

·         m is a fan of Aristotle which is confusing because he is a philosopher

·         Only one person can be loved at any one time but you can love many parts of that person. I think that there can be multiple people you love in your life (friends, family)

pg 121-241 ch 32-54

That we are to Avoid Pleasures, Even at the Expense of Life

·         Death when more bad than good in the world, evil is against nature.

·         St. Hilary killed Abra(daughter) when she was persuaded into marriage for wealth

·         Always agrees and never has any opinion, even death was mutual

·         Worried about wealth corrupting family but chooses to stay

·         Says to avoid pleasure so life may be lived as it is supposed to be

That Fortune is Oftentimes Observed to Act by the Rules of Reason

·         Duke Valentois tries to poison Cardinal Corneto with wine but killed himself in the process

·         Has an abscess in his chest and wants to die to stop pain and is reckless in battle and the abscess is removed and he lives w/o pain

·         A painter hated his work and threw something at it but made it better.

·         Father and son wound each other but can still kill each other

·         Fate works in a karma like way. One does something and receives the opposite intended effect

Of one Defect in our Government

·         Father wants to build repair places all over city

·         He states that the world in not generally corrupted, I think that corruption Is inevitable, always temptation

·         Wanted someone to imitate his father

Of the Custom of Wearing Clothes

·         Clothes originally for protection but evolved into fashion that cannot be used for defense.

·         We were not born with this fashion so it is not intended for nature

·         Plato doesn’t believe in wearing things on heads and feet. Alexander the Great was a warrior and never changed clothes while the king of Mexico changed his frequently which is pointless

Of Cato the Younger

·         Says that our gen has grown so stupid and that the very imagination of virtue is defective and appears only to be college jargon. We ignore everything around us. I believe this is true

·         Cato was a product that nature created to see how high humans could attain virtue and constancy. Died because he rose to high

·          “we have far more poets than judges and interpreters of poetry; it is easier to write it than to understand it.” I believe that there are more judges who’s pretend to understand and cause interpretation to be almost anything

That we Laugh and Cry for the Same Thing

·         Children laugh and cry at same thing because they have not distinguished anything yet but adults have so they know what to laugh and cry at, adults have lost all of their innocence.

·         A smile is compared to a new sun that cannot be seen as different. It is so blinding and new that it is a all the same

Of Solitude

·         Says to either hate or join the vicious because of the danger of being neither.

·         The vicious are unknown to us because there are so many

·         Moving to a different place does not stop evil, one must remove themselves mentally and take possession of soul

·         It’s a disease of the mind and soul, it has to do with willpower and can be called home

·         Virtue is a thing of the mind not necessarily the body

·         Death to ourselves is irrelevant when it comes to the death of loved ones. Life is supposed to be lived with these people and when they are gone they cannot come back and life must be lived without them

That the Relish of Good & Evil Depends in a Great Measure Upon the Opinion we Have of Them

·         States men are tormented by their opinion of things rather than the things themselves. The opinion may be formed out of a popular opinion without knowing anything about it (opinions of gay marriage)

·         Death, pain, and poverty are things that can make a life less fulfilled but they are not the worst things to happen

·         In the kingdom of Narsinga, the wives of priests are buried alive with their husband's bodies, all other wives are burnt at their husband's funeral, which the joyfully undergo. When the king dies, his wives, concubines, officers, domestic servants, and anyone else who works for him are all burnt alive with him and see it as a singular honor to accompany their master in death. This is probably because they want to start the next life with them or not live life without them.

·         I believe that pleasure and pain coexist because you cannot have one without the other. Plato believes that pain and pleasure knit and ally the soul together but Montaigne believes that they separate and disunite them.

Not to Communicate a Man's Honour

·         Honor is in us and cannot leave and there is no way to separate this. I believe that honor can be broken though unwillingly (the crusades or any other holy wars)

·         He believe it is inscribed in our DNA and while it may come off as vanity it isn’t( Pride and Prejudice)

·         He thinks honor and respect separate emotion from morals

Of the Inequality Amongst Us

·         He says that when we judge people we judge off of fashion, makeup, possessions while we should judge on things of use like arms and legs, but then this means that we can judge off beauty and body

·         “The pedestal is no part of the statue. Measure him without his stilts; let him lay aside his revenues and his titles, let him present himself in his shirt.” Although Montaigne is basically saying not to judge and assess someone based on the materials they wear and own, he is referring to their physical body parts and that if they are strong and properly function, then they are a worthy person. He also makes hints that if they are a physically strong and capable person, then their physique must parallel their soul

·         People act differently in different situations. Is this still them or is it all an act? Is it another part of their soul? Compares kings and their behavior in public as opposed to their behavior in their castles to that of the present day actors who portray them to who the actors really are outside of the theater

·         Possessions are used to fill holes. They satisfy a moment but not a lifetime. While they are real and touchable they have no comparison to such emotions as love

·         Montaigne believes that it is much more easy and pleasant to follow than it is to lead. I believe this is true because a leadership position requires forming your own opinions when it isn’t the popular one, it means being able to stand above the rest while others cower.

·         He also says that it is great satisfaction having to only answer to yourself and one path to walk in. I believe that some people are innate followers but helping people and being a follower are two different things. One can help while being a follower.

Of Sumptuary Laws

·         Contradictive laws about vain and idle expenses in meat and clothes but made by so he thinks that they should be the first ones to end their fascination and necessity for the most lavish materials if it is expect to disseminate among the common people also would allow the royalty to be leaders.

·         He likes honor and ambition over objects and possessions. He likes zeleucus laws

Of Sleep

·         “Reason directs that we should always go the way, but not always at the same pace.” Eudors weltys a worn path, there can be rough spots in life that may take time to get over

·         He tells stories of princes and kings who fall asleep and the majority of them die during their rest or finally wake up and then die. Sleep can be harmful or wonderful. Some die in their sleep others have dreams.

Of Names

·         It is a good thing to have a good name, but besides this, it is really convenient to have a well-sounding name, because it is easy to pronounce and to remember. Socrates also wrote that it was worthy of a father's time to give fine names to his children. A well sounding name would improve honor and a good name may be more hearty

Of War-Horses, or Destriers

·         Swords are superior to guns because there is so much to deal with in a gun. There’s too much reliance on everything else. A man himself strikes much surer than the air can direct his blow.” With modern weapons he would think the same thing

·         This chapter is about how trained war-horses can help in battle if they can distinguish the enemy and learn to fall straight down rather than on their back to save their master and basically how important they are when it comes to serving those who ride their backs, but Montaigne discusses how their horses of service are called destriers and their romances commonly use the phrase of adestrer for accompagner (to accompany) in the inception of this particular chapter. War horses would fall on their back to save their master just as lovers would save each other

Of Ancient Customs

·         Tells about how we don’t understand or appreciate ancestral ways, maybe our ancestors make fun of our ways too. Things appear different but they really aren’t

·         He doesn’t think that we should make fun because we are supposed to respect our ancestors and not judge them without having any context of their time

Of the Vanity of Words

·         Aristotle thinks Rhetoric is the science to persuade people but Plato and Socrates think it is an art to deceive. I think m would agree with Plato and Socrates

Of a Saying of Caesar

·         Talks about how new things are always desirable but they can never satisfy our wants for them, new things are just objects that are constantly changing.

Of Vain Subtleties

·         Says “Stupidity and wisdom meet in the same center of sentiment and resolution, in the suffering of human accidents.” Stupidity and wisdom are one. Both can cause suffering depending on what path we take

Ch.56, Pg.355: On Prayer (Book 1)

·         focuses on strong religious beliefs and customs and understanding prayer

·         universities want to lay down the truth not =seek it even though that is what education is about

·         m has a strong connection to the catholic church and is why he doesn’t like philosophers

·         prayer should be formal and recognize god

·         constant prayer will help someone beat evil

Ch.57, Pg.366: On the Length Of Life (Book 1)

·         closing to book 1

·         questions the meaning of life and wonder why we fear death

·         death of old age is the best way to go

·         life should be enjoyed and amazing not rushed

· 
we get caught up in life and something may happen that can drastically change it

Ch.1, Pg.373: On the Inconstancy of Our Actions (Book 2)

·         talks about human behavior like tendencies and flaws

·         there is a lot of division between people

·         we choose to push each other away despite our similarities

·         judging by the past is not fair because someone may be different now, but can we truly be different

·         we fight an inner battle

Ch.2, Pg.381: On Drunkenness (Book 2)

·         alcohol consumption needs to be controlled and it should not be something to binge on

·         drunkenness reveal our true  nature

·         we lose control over our minds, actions, and motives when drunk

·         control teaches us our limits and willower

Ch. 3, Pg.392: A Custom of the Isle of Cea

·         philosophy favors self-destruction while theology favors creation

·         there is a slave suicide because he has lost all of his freedom

Ch.4, Pg.408: Work can wait till Tomorrow (Book 2)

·         work is not life and there must be time set aside for fun and relaxment

·         life is fulfilled with work and enjoyment should be in small parts or else it isn’t enjoyable

Ch.5, Pg.411: On Conscience (Book 2)

·         conscience is an individual right that tells us right from wrong

·         it is a gift and a curse because it makes us choose between good and evil

·         it makes you aware of your actions

Ch.6, Pg.416: On Practice (Book 2)

·         m wants to practice living not death

·         he wants to live his life and disagrees with Socrates

·         we must speak for ourselves

Ch.7, Pg.428: On Rewards for Honor (Book 2)

·         he talks about the inequality of men

·         reward and recognition should be earned but most of it isn’t so it has lost its value

·         some rewards required evil to be done to get the reward

Ch.8, Pg.432: On the Affection of fathers for their Children (Book 2)

·         his daughters died early and his mother had inheritance issues so he says that fathers accidently fall in love with children

·         he has a lot of anger from the inheritance arguments

·         Parents don’t want to be loved by children?

·         Favor younger children so the older ones are deprived

·         Analogy with a painter and his creation and how he falls in love

Ch.9, Pg.453: On the Armour of the Parthians (Book 2)

·         M’s armor he wore as a knight and how he doesn’t trust them

·         Armor is a burden but still helpful

Ch.10, Pg.455: On Books (Book 2)

·         Talks about studying different things

·         Books allow us to learn from the world and about it

·         Learning allows us not to judge so easily

·         Education allows us to grow

·         Likes Plutarch and Seneca

Ch.11, Pg.472: On Cruelty (Book 2)

·         Talks about cruelty and its origins

·         Believes it comes from sexual encounters

·         One must go through something in order to gain something

·         Virtues can’t be taught but that we are born with them

·         Animals feel pain like us when we are cruel to them

Pg 489-682

chapter 12 apology for raimond sebond

·         We cannot reach superior heights without god

Chapter 13 on Judging Someone Else's Death

·         Dying is the big bang of our life, but it is hard to think about

·         The more important we think we are the harder it is to believe we can die

·         Death that is prolonged is torture because it takes longer to die

·         To not fear death is very rare

·         Suicides must be committed by someone else

Chapter 14 How Our Mind Tangles Itself Up

·         Our minds can play tricks on us

Chapter 15 That Difficulty Increases Desire

·         Difficult in attaining something gives it more value

·         We will do anything to get something when it is difficult to get

·         It can even increase beauty

·         Allowance debases things

Chapter 16 on Glory

·         Glory may be won but not always earned, glory is supposed to be praised or else it is nothing

·         Honor requires glory

·         The right road has the best ending even if it isn’t the most pleasant

·         Names want to be known despite the opinion of them

·         Nobody wants to be forgotten they want to be remembered

Chapter 17 on Presumption

·         Not regarding status has no meaning

·         Presuming things can get you into trouble

·         People will always judge and assume things about people

·         How you see yourself is how other see you

Chapter 18 on Giving the Lie

·         Lies allow us to be other people and change us on the inside

Chapter 19 on Freedom of Conscience

·         Kings tried to be good and fair

·         Couldn’t do what they wished so they pretended to wish to do what they could

II: 26 on thumbs

·         Anecdote- story of barbarian kings making treaties by pressing right thumbs together, pricking, and then sucking each other's blood.

·         In Rome sign or approval to twist thumbs

·         Thumbs would get cut off for stealing

·         They’re essential to our livelihood

II:27 On cowardice, the mother of cruelty

·         Cowardice is feminine

·         Crying shows weakness

·         Honor is gone when someone see mercy in his emeny

·         Soldiers are not gentlemen

II:28 There is a season for everything

·         Wise men always show good

·         Human nature include wanting youth

·         Learning must be continued through old age

II:29 On virtue

·         "There is nothing we cannot do"

·         Tells of stories of people cutting things off to stay virtuous

·         Fate cannot be changed

II:30 On a monster child

·         Monsters are a part of gods design

·         Most monsters described were not aesthetically pleasing and had deformities

·         There are infinite possibilities in the world

·         They are against nature

II:31 On anger

·         Abusing children is wrong to m

·         Anger causes us to think very irrationally or not at all and makes us think instinctively

·         People don’t always do what they say

·         Choler: angry body humor

·         Anger can get us in trouble

II:32 In defense of Seneca and Plutarch

·         Seneca is a philosopher and Plutarch is a writer

·         Defends Plutarch’s comparison of romans and Greeks

·         Very stubborn on his opinion

II:33 the tale of Spurina

·         Two hungers( mind and body)

·         Julius Caesar and his ambition for power and ladies but ultimately he is killed by his most loyal friend

·         Spurina was so beautiful he cut his face to not hate himself

II:34 Observation on Julius Caesar's methods of waging war

·         M thinks that his style is unique

·         Wanted troops to be found weaker than expected

·         Acted at the right time ruthlessly

·         Very convincing in his speeches

·         His soldiers were very loyal

II:35 On three good wives

·         Fathers get honored and respected by sons with showing no love

·         Women have the same situation but some men don’t like that

·         Women leave with their husbadns when they die

·         Sacrifice is honorable

II:36 On the most excellent of men

·         Homer: the best poet, created lasting gods and stories

·         Alexander: a great conqueror, he was lucky and accomplished

·         Epaminondad:great morals, humane, best wisdom and reason

II:37 On the resemblance of children to their fathers

·         Talks about book 1 and 2

·         He is fascinated how physical traits and thinking traits are passed

·         Medicine is built from examples and experience

·         M believes medicine is magic but I think it is just science and is very helpful

·         Doesn’t like living healthy advice from doctors

·         Changes and lets doctors see him and understands medicine

Book III Essay 6. On coaches

·         Chariots were a symbol of wealth and status

·         Authors must use certain things in their text

·         Talks about origin of the sneeze and bless you

·         write from experience not just for argument

Book III Essay 7. On high rank as a disadvantage

·         there will always be defects in things

·         others must teach the young so they are knowledgeable

·         everyone wants to fit in but he likes his rank

·         rhetorical questions

Book III Essay 8. On the art of conversation

·         how m talks and thinks of others

·         leads by example

·         a loss has more power than a win

·         uses a lot of rhetorical strategies in essays

·         in conversation we can only make fun of ourselves

·         language skills are needed to give speeches to a city

Book III Essay 9. On vanity

·         we want to be pitied when bad times occur but those that pity us see it for what it is

·         small problems will lead to bigger ones and so on, water dripping into a crack

·         all wisdom is vanity

·         some people talk down to others because they assume they are below them even if they might not be

Book III Essay 10: On Restraining You’re Will

·         to gain willpower one must make a choice against the supposed action and not think about it

·         reflection on why human nature tends to do certain habits can help restrain them

·          “I exercise great care to extend by reason and reflection this privileged lack of emotion, which is by nature well advanced in me”

·         M believes that passion destroys achievement

·         Mainly about human behaviors and tendencies

·          “If you do not stop the start, you will never stop the race.”

Book III Essay 11: On the Lame

·         Lame- disabled so that movement, especially walking, is difficult or impossible.

·         He allows his mind to wander which is probably the basis of many of his essays

·         “I was recently letting my mind range wildly (as I often do) over our human reason and what a rambling and roving instrument it is”

·         People tend to stick with what they believe is true even if it’s wrong

·          “The lame man does it best.”

Book III Essay 12: On Physiognomy

·         Physiognomy- the art of judging human character from facial features.

·         As humans we have a never-ending avarice for money and objects and even certain physical features

·         To many people it matters what they look like and they constantly want to change their selves

·         We can’t have true power over ourselves until we are free

·         “It matters much to souls in what sort of body they are lodged: for many of the body’s qualities serve to sharpen the mind and many others make it obtuse.”

Book 3: of experience (pgs 1206-1269)

·         Experience helps us when reason fails (thinking of a hard decision to make)

·         We have an innate desire for knowledge

·         Allude to story of Delphi and picking which egg went to which hen (important)

·         Allude to Perrozet and ability to decipher cards

•                    Being similar doesn’t make people “one” as much as being different make people “other” (nature favors)

•                    No relationship between actions and fixed unchanging laws

•                    Uses rhetorical questions

•                    Our laws are too entangled and complicated

·         Lawyers are example of bad laws (spread us thin and increase doubts)

•                    Man is ironic because gets caught in own works/mess

·         Reference to Aesop and of licking path in river and drowns

•                    Create pictures with descriptions to help reader understand

·         Run from someone who is stabbed for fear of questioning

·         Be blunt and take criticism with grain of salt which will release love

·         M believes in god and rebels against philosophers

·         Tries to hide pain of his illness

·         Reference Dantes Inferno and Styx River

·         Death is inevitable, comes whenever, born to die

•                    Was a healthy and active man but illness has deteriorated him inside and out (aged)

•                    Fancied father because taught him values of the poor and as a boy Montaigne was picky and strange

·         M learned to help others despite class matter class

•                    Eats in excess and talks of diets so joins dinner parties later (change habits/routines) to refrain from over eating

·         He has seen death and has new found respect whereas someone who hasn’t experienced death can’t appreciate life

•                    Told stories of Socrates and daring, brave, and restrained in values and why he is so respected

·         Reflected how Montaigne tries to live life

•                    Utilizes oxymoron’s to convey point about pleasure and pain

•                     “Your only gain lies in the chase”- keep striving to be better, continual learning

•                    M emphasizes that he is his own person and wants to die knowing he did the right thing in life and in the afterlife won’t have to subject himself to another

Vocab