Of Montaigne

The intrigue of a character like Montaigne is in his ability to extemporaneously explore topics according to his own interests, at his own leisure. In first reading him, I found myself needing to adjust to his rich use of language, and the sensibilities of French high culture. He is someone who inherited his career path, his land, his title. He speaks openly of his lack of interest to succeed in business, and how his father had provided him with a name and the reputation to precede him. He acknowledges himself as an idler, having retired at 38 years old. Upon his retirement, depression found him, and following the early death of his closest friend, Étienne La Boétie, he took to writing in lieu of the many conversations he once had. All these variables came together for Montaigne to create the body of work we know him for today. His *Essais*, a masterclass on extemporaneous thought, are the free-flowing, unplanned path of his mind. This context brings us to the following question: why should be modern care about the work of a man four centuries removed from the internet?

The answer is relevance. As the human condition remains unchanged, the observations found in the writings of Montaigne are as accurate today as they were at the time of writing. Arguably, the relevance has increased based on the quick pace of information in the modern world and our inability to slow down and think. To read Montaigne is to traverse the recesses of a mind intellectually alive. The wonder to be gained from reading him is in his exploratory style, whereby he begins on a single topic and proceeds as quickly as his hand can write and his mind can formulate his thoughts. He discusses his brevity of script, not caring about poor spelling or penmanship. He sculpts for the reader an outline of a statue, and refines the edges accordingly. In other essays, he leaves unattended the clarifications to clearly position his opinion, all of which are inconsequential, as he has no primary audience but himself, and he positions his work as superfluous to the lives of the reader. Ingenious, as the human condition only wants what it can't have. "I'll give you rich literature to improve your lives," he could have said. None would have read. "You would be unreasonable to spend your leisure on so frivolous and vain a subject," he says instead; human attention follows (and continues through the years).

This open-handed approach is subtle, he is a master of his craft. Given the non obligation, and even the accusation of imprudence, the reader becomes all the more attentive. *Don't tell me what to do*, he says to himself. Yet the essays hold attention, at least they have for me. If one is slow, I move along, to circle back at another time. The meta-analysis of his own writing is particularly unique, and it cuts through the centuries to seem as modern as an email from a friend. He speaks of himself and his thinking as I speak of myself and my thinking. Montaigne shapes the reader and he shapes himself. Montaigne's approach, value, and relevancy ages like a fine wine.

Montaigne is an influence of many, the list is long; Shakespeare and Nietzsche come to mind. He speaks of candid disclosure of his life, an honesty of speech and thought, yet winks at the future with his self-deprecation. Again, by discounting his own value, the perception of his value increases. And the irony of the human condition continues.