Essays of Michel de Montaigne: Notes

Chapter 1: Of Custom, and That We Should Not Easily Change a Law Received

• "For, in truth, custom is a violent and treacherous schoolmistress." (pg. 7)~Montaigne uses a metaphor to describe what he believes to be the definition of custom.  Obviously he does not think highly of custom, in fact he makes it even sound dangerous.
• "But the effects of custom are much more manifest in the strange impression she imprints in our minds, where she meets with less resistance." (pg. 9)~From this quote the reader is able to gather that custom has little trouble infiltrating the mind.  My question is however, doesn't custom derive from the mind in the first place?
• "To conclude; there is nothing, in my opinion, that she does not, or may not do; and, therefore, with very good reason it is, that Pindar calls her the queen, and empress of the world." (pg.13)~Once again Montaigne shows his distaste of custom by referring to it as an all powerful queen.

Chapter 2: Of The Education of Children

• "...To see myself so weak and so forlorn, so heavy and so flat, in comparison of those better writers, I at once pity or despise myself." (pg. 22)~Montaigne simply states that he cannot be compared to the great writers of his time because he was simply not educated.
• "Madame, science, is a very great ornament, and a thing of marvelous use, especially in persons raised to that degree of fortune in which you are." (pg. 25)~Montaigne believes that the sciences are important as pointed out directly from this quote.
• "They begin to teach us to live when we have almost done living." (pg. 37)~What Montaigne is trying to say is that because there is so much knowledge in the world, one only begins to apprehend it when they are closest to death.

Chapter 3: That Fortune is Often Times Observed to Act by the Rules of Reason

• "But to conclude: is there not a direct application of her favor, bounty, and piety manifestly discovered in this action?" (pg. 51)~Throughout this chapter I am not quite sure what Montaigne is talking about.  However my theory is that the "her" he mentions numerous times in the chapter is actually fortune.  It seems however that fortune causes many calamities.

Chapter 4: Of Cannibals

• "I am afraid our eyes are bigger than our bellies..." (pg. 55)~provides the doubts of Montaigne himself
• "They must be absolutely so (savage) or else we are savages; for their is a vast difference between their manners and ours." (pg. 61)~shows how we as humans see things as bad before we even understand them
• "That when he went to visit the villages of his dependence, they plained him paths through the think of their woods, by which he might pass at his ease." (pg.63)~Montaigne talking to a captain who says to him that after the war (like wars today), captains are respected and their life becomes much easier.

Chapter 5: Of War-Horses, Or Destriers

• "I do not willingly alight when I am once on horseback, for it is the place where, whether well or sick, I find myself most at ease." (pg.66)~Montaigne admitting that he feels great comfort when riding a horse
• "And that the greatest distinction between fee men and slaves among them was that the one rode on horseback and the other went on foot." (pg.66)~Montaigne admits a powerful difference in social classes based on horses

Chapter 6: Of Democritus and Heraclitus

• "A man makes a judgment of a horse, not only by seeing him when he is showing off his paces, but by his very walk, nay, and by seeing him stand in the stable." (pg.74)~This quote relates to the judgments men often lack when choosing a woman.  Although I feel this does not have much importance, it is quite interesting.
•    "Democritus and Heraclitus were two philosophers, of whom the first, finding human condition ridiculous and vain, never appeared abroad but with a jeering and laughing countenance; whereas Heraclitus commiserating that same condition of ours, appeared always with a sorrowful look, and tears in his eyes:" (pg. 75)~Montaigne explains the difference between the two philosophers and how their emotions reflected their thoughts of the human condition.

Chapter 7: Of Age

• "To die of old age is a death rare, extraordinary, and singular, and therefore, so much less natural that the others 'tis the last and extremest sort of dying: and the more remote, the less to be hoped for." (pg. 77)~Montaigne expresses his views on how dying of old age has become less popular because it has become so rare.  Even in today's world that holds true
• "Sometimes the body first submits to age, sometimes the mind...so much greater is the danger." (pg. 79)~I believe that what Montaigne is trying to say is that if one loses the mind before the body, the rest of that life is destined to waste.

Chapter 8: Of Drunkenness

• "Now, among the rest, drunkenness seems to me to be a gross and brutish vice." (pg. 81)~Montaigne expresses his feelings towards drunkenness at the beginning of the essay
• "The worst state of man is that wherein he loses the knowledge and government of himself." (pg. 82)~Although not directly stated, Montaigne cleverly states his opinion on the result of a man when he becomes lost in his liquor.
• "He, moreover, says that wine is able to supply the soul with temperance and the body with health." (pg. 85)~Montaigne reveals the thoughts of Plato concerning the usefulness of wine.  Although it might seem odd to say that wine supplies the soul with temperance, it is true that temperance is only achieved when one is tempted by a vice.

Chapter 9: Of Glory

• "We are in want of beauty, health, wisdom, virtue, and such like essential qualities: exterior ornaments should be looked after when we have made provision for necessary things." (pg. 89)~I believe Montaigne is hinting that the "necessary things" are the glories of life.
• "I care not so much what I am in the opinion of others, as what I am in my own." (pg. 94)~Montaigne again philosophises on the modern truth that most people only care for what others see them as, instead of caring what they see themselves as.
• "Whoever will justly consider, and with due proportion, of what kind of men and of what sort of action the glory sustains itself in the records of history, will find that there are very few actions and very few persons of our times who can there pretend any right." (pg. 97)~From this quote Montaigne believes that there are very few people who should be held high by their notable glorious actions.

Chapter 10: Of Presumption

• "There is another sort of glory, which is the having too good an opinion of our own worth." (pg.99)~Montaigne's definition of presumption?
• "This glory consists of two parts; the one in setting too great a value upon ourselves, and the other in setting too little a value upon others." (pg. 100)~Once again Montaigne explains his definition of presumption.
• "In events, I carry myself like a man; in the conduct, like a child.  The fear of the fall more fevers me than the fall itself." (pg. 109)~Montaigne expresses how he sees himself, almost childish is someways.

Chapter 11: That We Taste Nothing Pure

• "Labor and pleasure, very unlike in nature, associate, nevertheless, by I know not what natural conjuction." (pg. 123)~Montaigne explaining how humans are bound to enjoy labor and pleasure together in a moment, rather than separated in their entirety

Chapter 12: Of Thumbs

• "Physicians say, that the thumbs are the master fingers of the hand, and that their Latin etymology is derived from "pollere"'. (pg. 127)~The importance of thumbs can be derived from this quote.
• "Augustus confiscated the strength of a Roman knight, who had maliciously cut off the thumbs of two young children he had, to excuse them from going into the armies." (pg. 127)~Once again the power of the thumb is portrayed through this story of Augustus.

Chapter 13: Of The Resemblance of Children To Their Fathers

• "There is not a nation in the world that has not been many ages without physic." (pg. 135)~I do not understand why a physic is mentioned throughout this chapter?
• "The most universal quality is diversity." (pg. 150)~This is probably one of the most powerful quotes in the book which is why I decided to put it down.  It shows how complex the world can really be.

Chapter 14: Of Repentance

• "There is no vice that is absolutely a vice which does not offend, and that a sound judgment does not accuse." (pg. 152)~Montaigne describes how basically anything will have a negative affect, it is just the way of the world.
• "The virtue of the soul does not consist in flying high, but in walking orderly." (pg. 155)~Montaigne offers an insight into how the should only seeks normality. 

Chapter 15: Upon Some Verses of Virgil

• "I gently turn aside, and avert my eyes from the stormy and cloudy sky I have before me, which, thanks be to God I regard without fear."~Montaigne does not like to look at the negative aspects of life.
• "A good marriage, if there be any such, rejects the company and conditions of love, and tries to represent those of friendship." (pg. 171)~I believe this is an accurate representation of today's marriages.
• "I say that males and females are cast in the same mold, and that, education and usage excepted, the difference is not great.

Chapter 16: Of Coaches

• "IT IS very easy to verify, that great authors, when they write of causes, not only make use of those they think to be the true causes, but also of those they believe not to be so, provided they have in them some beauty and invention." (pg.207)~Montaigne explains how authors use both causes and the counterexample of causes in their writing.
• "Let us here return to our coaches.  Instead of these, and of all other sorts of carriages, they caused themselves to be carried upon men's shoulders." (pg. 220)~I am not sure if this is an accurate description of a coach?

Chapter 17: That to Study Philosophy is to Learn to Die

• "The reason of which is, because study and contemplation do in some sort withdraw from us our soul, and employ it separately from the body, which is a kind of apprenticeship and a resemblance of death." (pg. 221)~Montaigne's reaction to Cicero's quote.
• "Let the philosophers say what they will, the main thing at which we all aim, even in virtue itself, is pleasure." (pg. 221)~So very true.

Chapter 18: Of Vanity

• "But there should be some restraint of law against foolish and impertinent scribblers, as well as against vagabonds and idle persons; which if there were, both I and a hundred others would be banished the kingdom." (Pg. 235)~Montaigne finds he is one of the scribblers that he believes to be nonsense.
• "Not according to opinion, but in truth and reality, the best and most excellent government for every nation is that under which it is maintained: its form and essential convenieve depend upon custom." (pg. 244)~Montaigne's view of how government should be ran.

Chapter 19: Of Physiognomy

• "We are all of us richer than we think we are; but we are taught to borrow and to beg, and brought up more to make use of what is another's than of our own." (pg. 280)~A perfect representation of today's attitude toward the world.
• "A person's look is but a feeble warranty; and yet it is something considerable too; and if I had to lash them, I would most severely scourge the wicked ones who belie and betray the promises that nature has planted in their foreheads." (pg. 296)~Montaigne basically states that although looks are important, if he was to punish someone he would harm their minds.

Chapter 20: Of The Force of Imagination

• "It has a very piercing impression upon me; and I make it my business to avoid, wanting force to resist it." (pg. 301)~Montaigne is very fond of imagination which is why in this quote he says he does not resist it.

Chapter 21: Of Experience

• "There is no desire more natural than that of knowledge.  We try all ways that can lead us to it; where reason is wanting, we therein employ experience." (pg.311)~Montaigne explains the power of knowledge yet he states that where there is a lack of it we decide to fill it with experience.
• "There is no more ado to interpret interpretations that to interpret things; and more books upon books than upon any other subject; we do nothing but comment upon one another." (pg. 314)~This quote accurately describes how human society has entered a point where recurrence itself has become commonplace.