Essays of Michel de Montaigne — CompleteESSAYS OF MICHEL DE MONTAIGNECharles Cotton translationChapter navigation136 reading sectionsGo to chapterChoose a chapter…ESSAYS OF MICHEL DE MONTAIGNEPREFACETHE LIFE OF MONTAIGNEI.——To Monsieur de MONTAIGNEII.——To Monseigneur, Monseigneur de MONTAIGNE.III.——To Monsieur, Monsieur de LANSAC,IV.——To Monsieur, Monsieur de MESMES, Lord of Roissy and Malassize, PrivyV.——To Monsieur, Monsieur de L’HOSPITAL, Chancellor of FranceVI.——To Monsieur, Monsieur de Folx, Privy Councillor, and Ambassador of His Majesty to the Signory of Venice.VII.——To Mademoiselle de MONTAIGNE, my Wife.VIII.——To Monsieur DUPUY,IX.——To the Jurats of Bordeaux.X.——To the same.XI.——To the same.XII.XIII.——To Mademoiselle PAULMIER.XIV.——To the KING, HENRY IV.XV.——To the same.XVI.——To the Governor of Guienne.ESSAYS OF MICHEL DE MONTAIGNEChapter I · ——THAT MEN BY VARIOUS WAYS ARRIVE AT THE SAME END.Chapter II · ——OF SORROWChapter III · ——THAT OUR AFFECTIONS CARRY THEMSELVES BEYOND US.Chapter IV · ——THAT THE SOUL EXPENDS ITS PASSIONS UPON FALSE OBJECTS, WHERE THE TRUE ARE WANTINGChapter V · ——WHETHER THE GOVERNOR OF A PLACE BESIEGED OUGHT HIMSELF TO GO OUT TO PARLEYChapter VI · ——THAT THE HOUR OF PARLEY DANGEROUSChapter VII · ——THAT THE INTENTION IS JUDGE OF OUR ACTIONSChapter VIII · ——OF IDLENESSChapter IX · ——OF LIARSChapter X · ——OF QUICK OR SLOW SPEECHChapter XI · ——OF PROGNOSTICATIONSChapter XII · ——OF CONSTANCYChapter XIII · ——THE CEREMONY OF THE INTERVIEW OF PRINCESChapter XIV · ——THAT MEN ARE JUSTLY PUNISHED FOR BEING OBSTINATE IN THE DEFENCE OF A FORT THAT IS NOT IN REASON TO BE DEFENDEDChapter XV · ——OF THE PUNISHMENT OF COWARDICEChapter XVI · ——A PROCEEDING OF SOME AMBASSADORSChapter XVII · ——OF FEARChapter XVIII · ——THAT MEN ARE NOT TO JUDGE OF OUR HAPPINESS TILL AFTER DEATH.Chapter XIX · ——THAT TO STUDY PHILOSOPY IS TO LEARN TO DIEChapter XX · ——OF THE FORCE OF IMAGINATIONChapter XXI · ——THAT THE PROFIT OF ONE MAN IS THE DAMAGE OF ANOTHERChapter XXII · ——OF CUSTOM, AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT EASILY CHANGE A LAW RECEIVEDChapter XXIII · ——VARIOUS EVENTS FROM THE SAME COUNSELChapter XXIV · ——OF PEDANTRYChapter XXV · ——OF THE EDUCATION OF CHILDRENChapter XXV · ——OF THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN (continued 2)Chapter XXVI · ——THAT IT IS FOLLY TO MEASURE TRUTH AND ERROR BY OUR OWN CAPACITYChapter XXVII · ——OF FRIENDSHIPChapter XXVIII · ——NINE AND TWENTY SONNETS OF ESTIENNE DE LA BOITIEChapter XXIX · ——OF MODERATIONChapter XXX · ——OF CANNIBALSChapter XXXI · ——THAT A MAN IS SOBERLY TO JUDGE OF THE DIVINE ORDINANCESChapter XXXII · ——THAT WE ARE TO AVOID PLEASURES, EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF LIFEChapter XXXIII · ——THAT FORTUNE IS OFTEN-TIMES OBSERVED TO ACT BY THE RULE OF REASONChapter XXXIV · ——OF ONE DEFECT IN OUR GOVERNMENTChapter XXXV · ——OF THE CUSTOM OF WEARING CLOTHESChapter XXXVI · ——OF CATO THE YOUNGERChapter XXXVII · ——THAT WE LAUGH AND CRY FOR THE SAME THINGChapter XXXVIII · ——OF SOLITUDEChapter XXXIX · ——A CONSIDERATION UPON CICEROChapter XL · ——THAT THE RELISH FOR GOOD AND EVIL DEPENDS IN GREAT MEASURE UPON THE OPINION WE HAVE OF THEMChapter XLI · ——NOT TO COMMUNICATE A MAN’S HONOURChapter XLII · ——OF THE INEQUALITY AMOUNGST US.Chapter XLIII · ——OF SUMPTUARY LAWSChapter XLIV · ——OF SLEEPChapter XLV · ——OF THE BATTLE OF DREUXChapter XLVI · ——OF NAMESChapter XLVII · ——OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF OUR JUDGMENTChapter XLVIII · ——OF WAR HORSES, OR DESTRIERSChapter XLIX · ——OF ANCIENT CUSTOMSChapter L · ——OF DEMOCRITUS AND HERACLITUSChapter LI · ——OF THE VANITY OF WORDSChapter LII · ——OF THE PARSIMONY OF THE ANCIENTSChapter LIII · ——OF A SAYING OF CAESARChapter LIV · ——OF VAIN SUBTLETIESChapter LV · ——OF SMELLSChapter LVI · ——OF PRAYERSChapter LVII · ——OF AGEChapter I · ——OF THE INCONSTANCY OF OUR ACTIONSChapter II · ——OF DRUNKENNESSChapter III · ——A CUSTOM OF THE ISLE OF CEAChapter IV · ——TO-MORROW’S A NEW DAYChapter V · ——OF CONSCIENCEChapter VI · ——USE MAKES PERFECTChapter VII · ——OF RECOMPENSES OF HONOURChapter VIII · ——OF THE AFFECTION OF FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDRENChapter IX · ——OF THE ARMS OF THE PARTHIANSChapter X · ——OF BOOKSChapter XI · ——OF CRUELTYChapter XII · — APOLOGY FOR RAIMOND SEBOND.Chapter XII · — APOLOGY FOR RAIMOND SEBOND. (continued 2)Chapter XII · — APOLOGY FOR RAIMOND SEBOND. (continued 3)Chapter XII · — APOLOGY FOR RAIMOND SEBOND. (continued 4)Chapter XII · — APOLOGY FOR RAIMOND SEBOND. (continued 5)Chapter XIII · ——OF JUDGING OF THE DEATH OF ANOTHERChapter XIV · ——THAT OUR MIND HINDERS ITSELFChapter XV · ——THAT OUR DESIRES ARE AUGMENTED BY DIFFICULTYChapter XVI · ——OF GLORYChapter XVII · ——OF PRESUMPTIONChapter XVIII · ——OF GIVING THE LIEChapter XIX · ——OF LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCEChapter XX · ——THAT WE TASTE NOTHING PUREChapter XXI · ——AGAINST IDLENESSChapter XXII · ——OF POSTINGChapter XXIII · ——OF ILL MEANS EMPLOYED TO A GOOD ENDChapter XXIV · ——OF THE ROMAN GRANDEURChapter XXV · ——NOT TO COUNTERFEIT BEING SICKChapter XXVI · ——OF THUMBSChapter XXVII · ——COWARDICE THE MOTHER OF CRUELTYChapter XXVIII · ——ALL THINGS HAVE THEIR SEASONChapter XXIX · ——OF VIRTUEChapter XXX · ——OF A MONSTROUS CHILDChapter XXXI · ——OF ANGERChapter XXXII · ——DEFENCE OF SENECA AND PLUTARCHChapter XXXIII · ——THE STORY OF SPURINAChapter XXXIV · ——OBSERVATION ON THE MEANS TO CARRY ON A WAR ACCORDING TO JULIUS CAESARChapter XXXV · ——OF THREE GOOD WOMENChapter XXXVI · ——OF THE MOST EXCELLENT MENChapter XXXVII · ——OF THE RESEMBLANCE OF CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERSChapter I · ——OF PROFIT AND HONESTYChapter II · ——OF REPENTANCEChapter III · ——OF THREE COMMERCESChapter IV · ——OF DIVERSIONChapter V · ——UPON SOME VERSES OF VIRGILChapter V · ——UPON SOME VERSES OF VIRGIL (continued 2)Chapter VI · ——OF COACHESChapter VII · ——OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF GREATNESSChapter VIII · ——OF THE ART OF CONFERENCEChapter IX · ——OF VANITYChapter IX · ——OF VANITY (continued 2)Chapter X · ——OF MANAGING THE WILLChapter XI · ——OF CRIPPLESChapter XII · ——OF PHYSIOGNOMYChapter XIII · ——OF EXPERIENCEChapter XIII · ——OF EXPERIENCE (continued 2)APOLOGY:Previous chapter ←XVI.——To the Governor of Guienne.Next chapter →Chapter I · ——THAT MEN BY VARIOUS WAYS ARRIVE AT THE SAME END.All chapters and sections (136)Other sectionsESSAYS OF MICHEL DE MONTAIGNEPREFACETHE LIFE OF MONTAIGNEI.——To Monsieur de MONTAIGNEII.——To Monseigneur, Monseigneur de MONTAIGNE.III.——To Monsieur, Monsieur de LANSAC,IV.——To Monsieur, Monsieur de MESMES, Lord of Roissy and Malassize, PrivyV.——To Monsieur, Monsieur de L’HOSPITAL, Chancellor of FranceVI.——To Monsieur, Monsieur de Folx, Privy Councillor, and Ambassador of His Majesty to the Signory of Venice.VII.——To Mademoiselle de MONTAIGNE, my Wife.VIII.——To Monsieur DUPUY,IX.——To the Jurats of Bordeaux.X.——To the same.XI.——To the same.Chapters12Other sectionsXIII.——To Mademoiselle PAULMIER.XIV.——To the KING, HENRY IV.XV.——To the same.XVI.——To the Governor of Guienne.ESSAYS OF MICHEL DE MONTAIGNEChapter I · ——THAT MEN BY VARIOUS WAYS ARRIVE AT THE SAME END.Chapter II · ——OF SORROWChapter III · ——THAT OUR AFFECTIONS CARRY THEMSELVES BEYOND US.Chapter IV · ——THAT THE SOUL EXPENDS ITS PASSIONS UPON FALSE OBJECTS, WHERE THE TRUE ARE WANTINGChapter V · ——WHETHER THE GOVERNOR OF A PLACE BESIEGED OUGHT HIMSELF TO GO OUT TO PARLEYChapter VI · ——THAT THE HOUR OF PARLEY DANGEROUSChapter VII · ——THAT THE INTENTION IS JUDGE OF OUR ACTIONSChapter VIII · ——OF IDLENESSChapter IX · ——OF LIARSChapter X · ——OF QUICK OR SLOW SPEECHChapter XI · ——OF PROGNOSTICATIONSChapter XII · ——OF CONSTANCYChapter XIII · ——THE CEREMONY OF THE INTERVIEW OF PRINCESChapter XIV · ——THAT MEN ARE JUSTLY PUNISHED FOR BEING OBSTINATE IN THE DEFENCE OF A FORT THAT IS NOT IN REASON TO BE DEFENDEDChapter XV · ——OF THE PUNISHMENT OF COWARDICEChapter XVI · ——A PROCEEDING OF SOME AMBASSADORSChapter XVII · ——OF FEARChapter XVIII · ——THAT MEN ARE NOT TO JUDGE OF OUR HAPPINESS TILL AFTER DEATH.Chapter XIX · ——THAT TO STUDY PHILOSOPY IS TO LEARN TO DIEChapter XX · ——OF THE FORCE OF IMAGINATIONChapter XXI · ——THAT THE PROFIT OF ONE MAN IS THE DAMAGE OF ANOTHERChapter XXII · ——OF CUSTOM, AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT EASILY CHANGE A LAW RECEIVEDChapter XXIII · ——VARIOUS EVENTS FROM THE SAME COUNSELChapter XXIV · ——OF PEDANTRYChapter XXV · ——OF THE EDUCATION OF CHILDRENChapter XXV · ——OF THE EDUCATION OF CHILDREN (continued 2)Chapter XXVI · ——THAT IT IS FOLLY TO MEASURE TRUTH AND ERROR BY OUR OWN CAPACITYChapter XXVII · ——OF FRIENDSHIPChapter XXVIII · ——NINE AND TWENTY SONNETS OF ESTIENNE DE LA BOITIEChapter XXIX · ——OF MODERATIONChapter XXX · ——OF CANNIBALSChapter XXXI · ——THAT A MAN IS SOBERLY TO JUDGE OF THE DIVINE ORDINANCESChapter XXXII · ——THAT WE ARE TO AVOID PLEASURES, EVEN AT THE EXPENSE OF LIFEChapter XXXIII · ——THAT FORTUNE IS OFTEN-TIMES OBSERVED TO ACT BY THE RULE OF REASONChapter XXXIV · ——OF ONE DEFECT IN OUR GOVERNMENTChapter XXXV · ——OF THE CUSTOM OF WEARING CLOTHESChapter XXXVI · ——OF CATO THE YOUNGERChapter XXXVII · ——THAT WE LAUGH AND CRY FOR THE SAME THINGChapter XXXVIII · ——OF SOLITUDEChapter XXXIX · ——A CONSIDERATION UPON CICEROChapter XL · ——THAT THE RELISH FOR GOOD AND EVIL DEPENDS IN GREAT MEASURE UPON THE OPINION WE HAVE OF THEMChapter XLI · ——NOT TO COMMUNICATE A MAN’S HONOURChapter XLII · ——OF THE INEQUALITY AMOUNGST US.Chapter XLIII · ——OF SUMPTUARY LAWSChapter XLIV · ——OF SLEEPChapter XLV · ——OF THE BATTLE OF DREUXChapter XLVI · ——OF NAMESChapter XLVII · ——OF THE UNCERTAINTY OF OUR JUDGMENTChapter XLVIII · ——OF WAR HORSES, OR DESTRIERSChapter XLIX · ——OF ANCIENT CUSTOMSChapter L · ——OF DEMOCRITUS AND HERACLITUSChapter LI · ——OF THE VANITY OF WORDSChapter LII · ——OF THE PARSIMONY OF THE ANCIENTSChapter LIII · ——OF A SAYING OF CAESARChapter LIV · ——OF VAIN SUBTLETIESChapter LV · ——OF SMELLSChapter LVI · ——OF PRAYERSChapter LVII · ——OF AGEChapter I · ——OF THE INCONSTANCY OF OUR ACTIONSChapter II · ——OF DRUNKENNESSChapter III · ——A CUSTOM OF THE ISLE OF CEAChapter IV · ——TO-MORROW’S A NEW DAYChapter V · ——OF CONSCIENCEChapter VI · ——USE MAKES PERFECTChapter VII · ——OF RECOMPENSES OF HONOURChapter VIII · ——OF THE AFFECTION OF FATHERS TO THEIR CHILDRENChapter IX · ——OF THE ARMS OF THE PARTHIANSChapter X · ——OF BOOKSChapter XI · ——OF CRUELTYChapters1212121212Other sectionsChapter XIII · ——OF JUDGING OF THE DEATH OF ANOTHERChapter XIV · ——THAT OUR MIND HINDERS ITSELFChapter XV · ——THAT OUR DESIRES ARE AUGMENTED BY DIFFICULTYChapter XVI · ——OF GLORYChapter XVII · ——OF PRESUMPTIONChapter XVIII · ——OF GIVING THE LIEChapter XIX · ——OF LIBERTY OF CONSCIENCEChapter XX · ——THAT WE TASTE NOTHING PUREChapter XXI · ——AGAINST IDLENESSChapter XXII · ——OF POSTINGChapter XXIII · ——OF ILL MEANS EMPLOYED TO A GOOD ENDChapter XXIV · ——OF THE ROMAN GRANDEURChapter XXV · ——NOT TO COUNTERFEIT BEING SICKChapter XXVI · ——OF THUMBSChapter XXVII · ——COWARDICE THE MOTHER OF CRUELTYChapter XXVIII · ——ALL THINGS HAVE THEIR SEASONChapter XXIX · ——OF VIRTUEChapter XXX · ——OF A MONSTROUS CHILDChapter XXXI · ——OF ANGERChapter XXXII · ——DEFENCE OF SENECA AND PLUTARCHChapter XXXIII · ——THE STORY OF SPURINAChapter XXXIV · ——OBSERVATION ON THE MEANS TO CARRY ON A WAR ACCORDING TO JULIUS CAESARChapter XXXV · ——OF THREE GOOD WOMENChapter XXXVI · ——OF THE MOST EXCELLENT MENChapter XXXVII · ——OF THE RESEMBLANCE OF CHILDREN TO THEIR FATHERSChapter I · ——OF PROFIT AND HONESTYChapter II · ——OF REPENTANCEChapter III · ——OF THREE COMMERCESChapter IV · ——OF DIVERSIONChapter V · ——UPON SOME VERSES OF VIRGILChapter V · ——UPON SOME VERSES OF VIRGIL (continued 2)Chapter VI · ——OF COACHESChapter VII · ——OF THE INCONVENIENCE OF GREATNESSChapter VIII · ——OF THE ART OF CONFERENCEChapter IX · ——OF VANITYChapter IX · ——OF VANITY (continued 2)Chapter X · ——OF MANAGING THE WILLChapter XI · ——OF CRIPPLESChapter XII · ——OF PHYSIOGNOMYChapter XIII · ——OF EXPERIENCEChapter XIII · ——OF EXPERIENCE (continued 2)APOLOGY:Translated by Charles CottonEdited by William Carew Hazlitt1877← XVI.——To the Governor of Guienne.CHAPTER I——THAT MEN BY VARIOUS WAYS ARRIVE AT THE SAME END. →