Where did the name of this blog come from?
Threshold question. Where did the name of this blog come from? Was I hit by lightning on the way to Damascus? Actually no, but it is a fair inquiry. Who was Montaigne, why do I admire him and why should you care? Why, in moments of unrealistic ambition and self appraisal, do I aspire to be his kindred spirit? The answer is simple. Montaigne was a wise man, a great writer, with an ultra cool persona. A true Renaissance Man and great role model.
Some facts. He was born in Dordogne, France in 1533. He died in 1592. He authored twenty essays in the 1580’s-a pioneer in this genre. I encountered the essays in the 1980’s and a highlighted Classics Club edition occupies an honored place in my study. As another Montaigne acolyte stated, " When you read Montaigne’s essays, “400 years disappear like smoke". If I had a more advanced writing skills I would happily echo the comments made by Ralph Waldo Emerson after he read the essays - “It seems to me as if I myself had written this book in some former life." The essays are timeless and written in an approachable style that allows people to recognize their own humanity. Simply stated, Montaigne is the “best friend you will ever have.” His appeal is universal and a guide to the art of living. As Diderot said, “the essays are a touchstone of a sound mind. If a man dislikes them, you maybe sure he has some defect of the heart or mind." Therefore, our blog title is aspirational for me.” BE LIKE MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE!
Montaigne describe himself (he thought and wrote about himself quite a bit - borderline narcissistic) as an accidental philosopher. The essays were not premeditated. They were reflections based on a lifetime observing human conduct. He is not an august sage sitting in an ivory tower pontificating on “how the world ought to be.” Instead, his morality is based on how imperfect people should confront a messy world. He is natural, playful, pragmatic and concrete. He observes human behavior with his feet firmly planted on the ground. He avoids making judgments from 40,000 feet. Ultimately, it is a relaxed humanism. No matter how high we ascend, we take our essential humanity with us. A Montaigne quote that should be framed in every home, “ We must walk in on our own legs and on the loftiest throne in the world, always remember we are still sitting on our own RUMP! We can never escape our own limitations. My kind of guy!
Montaigne was a conventional man of his era, although blessed by a superior education and economic security. He was a Catholic, married and had a daughter. He served in the public sphere as a soldier, diplomat, royal advisor and Mayor of Bordeaux. He was engaged in the world, not a recluse or hermit. He was a reader, a teacher, and an energetic traveler. He liked wine, female beauty and sex. He read prodigiously, had the largest private library in France and built an impressive wine cellar. He thought books brought pleasure, awakened reason and refined our judgment. Books are his ideal companion for the human journey. He was a citizen of the world. Travel is a life enhancing experience. He was the first “European.” He believed the quality of your life is immeasurably better when you expose yourself to the diversity and variety of the laws, ideas and customs of other nations and cultures. Ric Steves must love him!
His private philosophy is a mosaic. He is a Stoic, a Skeptic and an Epicurean, depending on the question presented. He ignores formal religion. In 20 essays, he never references Jesus or the Gospels once. This is rather amazing, even shocking since he was living in an intense and bloody time of sectarian strife. The Protestant Reformation and the Catholic Counter-Reformation were battling for religious supremacy and the politics of Continental Europe and Great Britain were very volatile. He was extremely distrustful of religious zeal and ideological purity, observing that both had a high correlation with violence, massacres and wars. The Vatican eventually noticed because the essays were placed on the Index of Prohibited Books in 1676 and remained there for 180 years. I expect Montaigne embraced the ban as a posthumous compliment. The 21st-century has much to learn from Montaigne on matters of faith. Focus on freedom of conscience and freedom of worship and call it a day. The good news is that it has been reliably reported that Pope Francis is a Montaigne fan.
The essays are a fountain of understated advice and common sense observations. Just live- don't worry about death. Nature will take care of that chapter for you. Pay attention, observe everything and treat all experiences as a learning opportunity. Maintain your balance and equilibrium and don't assume the worst about other people. Be empathetic and sympathetic. Put yourself in the shoes of the other guy. Do not disdain or fear what you don't comprehend at first glance. Be curious and open to critiques of your own arguments and views. Be candid and let the chips fall where they may! Maintain a sense of detachment and always preserve a private space. Pursue friendship and intimacy, but don't burden it with unrealistic expectations. People often fall short and the majority of human interactions are petty, silly or inconsequential. Don't sweat it! Things are fine as long as you approach each meeting and conversation with charm, humor, kindness and good sense. Spend more of your time with those who need you rather than those who benefit you. Avoid those who bow before the great but are dismissive of the weak. Balance your life between body and soul, contemplation and action and the private and public arenas.
The basic mantra is to live with others, be sociable, relaxed, affable and kind. Strive to be merciful. Never be CRUEL! It is toxic. Avoid vanity and greed. Focus on conduct, not ideology. Care about equity and fairness- not the dry application of endless laws and bureaucracy.
Montaigne also was a student of politics and leadership. As always, he is profound and direct. Virtual is the goal and truth telling is the most fundamental component of virtue. A leader who ignores or distorts the truth betrays the public trust. Once trust is lost, it is gone forever! The first stage in the corruption a public morals is the banishment of truth from the public square. Systematic lies break the bonds between the government and its citizens. Montaigne’s standards are high. The most honorable occupation is to serve the public. The highest and best use of a citizens intelligence, character and judgment as to exercise it behalf of your fellow citizens. Montaigne would be pained by the present state of our democracy and republic.
When I read Montaigne’s essays, my most frequent internal responses in "How True”. The purpose of this blog is to observe and reflect on our culture. Everything is fair game. Politics, sports, books, movies, food, music, personalities, travel - and any other topics that may strike my fancy at a particular day. I will aspire to Montaigne’s power of insight and presentation. Undoubtedly I will fall far short, but the process will keep my mind in motion. When choosing topics and putting pen to paper, I promise to always take a breath in ask two questions, 1) Would Montaigne care about this? 2) What would Montaigne think and write about this? I look forward to this journey even if I travel alone. Writing makes you think and thinking keeps you young. Good to be with you!
