How to Live Summary

"What do I know?" Montaigne’s famous question challenges us to embrace uncertainty and explore the fluidity of life with a curious, open mind.

1. Montaigne's Early Obsession with Death

In his youth, Montaigne was plagued by a preoccupation with death. Surrounded by personal and societal tragedies, he found himself unable to escape dark thoughts. The death of his best friend from the plague, his brother’s sudden death from a head injury during a game, and his father passing from health complications created an atmosphere of loss. These personal losses, combined with observing the rampant deaths from famine, war, and disease during the time, heightened his fear and fixation.

Montaigne’s studies of classical Greek and Roman philosophers like Seneca and Epicurus added to his morbid state. The philosophical focus on mortality often reinforced his obsessive thinking. As a nobleman who led a seemingly charmed life outwardly, his inner despair felt incongruous. He had all the trappings of privilege but battled an unseen torment.

This obsession with death gave him a profound awareness of life’s transience. Though initially paralyzing, it eventually became one of the motivations for his explorations into understanding life and death in deeper ways, shaping his eventual perspective on living fully despite inevitable loss.

Examples

• His best friend's death profoundly marked his outlook on friendships and loyalty.
• The French civil war and witch trials left him questioning life’s perceived fragility.
• Losing a child at two months old shattered his family life, further fueling his grim focus.

2. A Life-Altering Accident

An unexpected horse-riding accident in his mid-thirties changed Montaigne’s perspective forever. Flung to the ground and left incapacitated, Montaigne believed that he was dying. Lying on what he thought was his deathbed, he felt an unusual sense of calm and detachment instead of intense fear or pain.

This deeply personal encounter with mortality left Montaigne reflecting on how we experience death. Contrary to his expectations, the dying process felt like an easy surrender. He compared it to slipping into a restful sleep, a state free of agony. This moment liberated him from his crippling fear of dying, as he discovered that death might not be as terrifying as he once thought.

Instead of dreading death, Montaigne began to focus on the art of living. He learned that applying lightness and a mental drifting approach could help him navigate life’s difficulties, much like how he experienced the flow and acceptance in his near-death state.

Examples

• The accident challenged his assumptions by providing a tangible experience of "dying" peacefully.
• Descriptions of nature echoed his sense of floating and freedom in what could have been his final moments.
• His newfound ease led him to encourage others to embrace a more relaxed attitude toward life and death.

3. Struggles in Retirement

Retiring from his career in law and politics, Montaigne dreamt of a quiet, tranquil life. His rural estate seemed like the perfect setting for reflection and freedom. But faced with an absence of structure, he fell into what he described as “melancholy humor.”

Aimless and restless, Montaigne sought to understand himself and the wandering nature of his thoughts. Inspired by philosophers like Seneca, he began observing his mind and capturing its flow in writing. This led to the birth of his Essays, attempting to translate the randomness of his musings into a form people could explore and connect with.

His writing offered a way out of the boredom and depression that initially plagued him. Through self-exploration, Montaigne turned retirement into a period of creativity and discovery, proving that purpose can be found in the most unexpected ways.

Examples

• He inscribed "freedom, tranquility, and leisure" on his library wall but struggled to fully embody it at first.
• By writing the Essays, he observed his wandering thoughts as if studying a subject.
• His devotion to Stoic principles helped him regain direction amidst disorientation.

4. Ordinary Yet Universal

Montaigne believed himself to be an average, unremarkable man. Paradoxically, it was this ordinariness that he found so appealing as a subject for his writing. By reflecting on his own flaws and mediocrity, he connected with the shared experiences of humanity.

While society valued writing about the grand accomplishments of extraordinary individuals, Montaigne focused on the everyday thoughts and struggles of typical people. His Essays provided reflections on the shared imperfections of human life, breaking free from the elitist notion that only greatness is worth documenting.

Through embracing mediocrity as universal, he dispelled myths of superiority and detached himself from unproductive comparisons. He argued that appreciating ordinariness was far more rewarding than pursuing greatness.

Examples

• He openly mocked his poor memory and laziness to show readers that imperfection is relatable.
• His writings served as a mirror for readers to see themselves in his observations.
• By rejecting arrogance, he fostered a sense of connection and compassion toward others.

5. Embracing Uncertainty

Central to Montaigne’s thought was his skepticism about certainty. He believed that humans often overestimate their knowledge and understanding. For him, questioning everything — even one’s own beliefs — was the only reasonable way forward.

This attitude helped Montaigne tackle complex and sensitive topics objectively. He never sought definitive answers. Instead, he welcomed ambiguity, creating room for change and alternative points of view. His open-mindedness encouraged readers to embrace multiple perspectives.

Montaigne’s flexibility in thought was revolutionary, advocating for constant learning and self-awareness by acknowledging one’s intellectual limits.

Examples

• His signature phrase, "What do I know?" encapsulated his humility in judgment.
• Contradictions within his essays showed his refusal to cling to a singular truth.
• He drew from classical influences such as Socrates, who also valued questioning over fixed answers.

6. The Stream of Consciousness Approach

Montaigne’s writing style set him apart. His essays flowed like a stream of consciousness, meandering through themes and thoughts without rigid structure. This allowed his work to feel authentic, mirroring how human minds experience life.

He often switched directions mid-essay, letting his thoughts develop organically. By inviting readers to follow these mental journeys, he offered a deeper connection to the human experience. This was writing that captured life’s dynamism, embracing imperfection.

Rather than seeking polished arguments, Montaigne celebrated the messiness of thought, which felt truer to the nature of human beings.

Examples

• The essay on his near-death experience vividly reconstructed his stream of thought as it happened.
• His digressions allowed readers insight into his true personality and interests.
• The Essays stood out against the formulaic writings of his contemporaries.

7. The Risks of Writing

Montaigne’s candid writing style was not without risk. By openly sharing his personal flaws and doubts, he defied societal norms. His honesty left him vulnerable to critiques of arrogance or frivolousness.

Despite backlash, Montaigne persisted, knowing that his frankness was vital to his authenticity. His Essays became a safe space for readers to feel less alone in their contradictions, shaping a relationship of trust between the writer and his audience.

Through his vulnerability, Montaigne redefined what it meant to write with integrity.

Examples

• His approach polarized readers while also inspiring great thinkers like Descartes and Nietzsche.
• Montaigne admitted his errors and fallibility in print, which was rare for public figures.
• By rejecting rigid expectations, he shifted literary standards of his time.

8. Reflections That Never Cease

Until his death, Montaigne kept expanding and revising his Essays. He viewed them as a living, breathing project. This reflected his belief that self-discovery and reflection are never finished tasks.

His willingness to revisit and reshape his work demonstrated humility and adaptability. For Montaigne, growth was not about arriving at fixed truths but remaining in a dialogue with life’s unfolding nature.

This philosophy made the Essays feel timeless, alive with a sense of wonder, like a conversation that continues after Montaigne’s time.

Examples

• He doubled the text in the second edition and still left ideas for further revisions after his death.
• Each essay evolved in both substance and interpretation as he aged.
• His unfixed approach inspired future writers to adopt exploratory prose styles.

9. Influence Beyond his Lifetime

The Essays became a seminal work, influencing future thinkers and writers for centuries. Montaigne’s pioneering style shaped major literary figures like Virginia Woolf, Ralph Waldo Emerson, and even Shakespeare.

His experimental approach bridged philosophy, autobiography, and literature. His ideas proved to be a rich resource for navigating personal and universal themes, inspiring generations.

Today, Montaigne continues to be a model for self-reflection, openness, and embracing the nuances of humanity.

Examples

• Descartes was both inspired and challenged by Montaigne’s skepticism.
• Nietzsche’s philosophy shows traces of Montaigne’s influence on questioning norms.
• Shakespeare borrowed thematic elements that echo Montaigne’s writings.

Takeaways

1. Embrace lightness in life: Don’t take everything so seriously; let yourself drift through rough patches with calm detachment.
2. Explore your own thoughts honestly: Start writing about your experiences and reflections, capturing your unique perspective as Montaigne did.
3. Stay open to uncertainty: Question what you know and remain open to learning; this mindset can bring growth and understanding.