Michel de Montaigne

Name: The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another.
Author: Michel de Montaigne

The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (1877)

Summary

“The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another.”, published in 1877, is a work by Michel de Montaigne. It explores elements such as leisure, constancy and destiny.

Quotes from The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (Michel de Montaigne)

Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (1877)

“ But in those who with greater resolution have determined to
despatch themselves, we must examine whether it were with one blow which
took away the leisure of feeling the effect for it is to be questioned
whether, perceiving life, by little and little, to steal away the
sentiment of the body mixing itself with that of the soul, and the means
of repenting being offered, whether, I say, constancy and obstinacy in so
dangerous an intention would have been found. ”

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Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (1877)

“ Do not concern thyself, Marcellinus, as if thou didst deliberate
of a thing of importance; 'tis no great matter to live; thy servants and
beasts live; but it is a great thing to die handsomely, wisely, and
firmly. Do but think how long thou hast done the same things, eat,
drink, and sleep, drink, sleep, and eat: we incessantly wheel in the same
circle. Not only ill and insupportable accidents, but even the satiety
of living, inclines a man to desire to die. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (1877)

“ Now, to judge of constancy and resolution in a man who does not yet
believe himself to be certainly in danger, though he really is, is not
reason; and 'tis not enough that he die in this posture, unless he
purposely put himself into it for this effect. It commonly falls out in
most men that they set a good face upon the matter and speak with great
indifference, to acquire reputation, which they hope afterwards, living,
to enjoy. Of all whom I have seen die, fortune has disposed their
countenances and no design of theirs ”

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Source: Wikisource

Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (1877)

“ We will make all things go along with us; whence it follows that we
consider our death as a very great thing, and that does not so easily
pass, nor without the solemn consultation of the stars:
"Tot circa unum caput tumultuantes dens,"
["All the gods to agitation about one man."
—Seneca, Suasor, i. 4.]
and so much the more think it as we more value ourselves. ”

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Source: Wikisource

Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (1877)

“ People do not much care to recognise it. No one can say that he is
resolute for death who fears to deal with it and cannot undergo it with
his eyes open: they whom we see in criminal punishments run to their
death and hasten and press their execution, do it not out of resolution,
but because they will not give them selves leisure to consider it ”

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Source: Wikisource

Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (1877)

“ Marcellinus did not stand
in need of a man to advise, but of a man to assist him; his servants were
afraid to meddle in the business, but this philosopher gave them to under
stand that domestics are suspected even when it is in doubt whether the
death of the master were voluntary or no; otherwise, that it would be of
as ill example to hinder him as to kill him, forasmuch as:
"Invitum qui servat, idem facit occidenti."
["He who makes a man live against his will, 'tis as cruel
as to kill him."—Horat., De Arte Poet., 467] ”

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Source: Wikisource

Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (1877)

“ Tam magno petiere mari;"
["Caesar now deemed these dangers worthy of his destiny: 'What!'
said he, 'is it for the gods so great a task to overthrow me, that
they must be fain to assail me with great seas in a poor little
bark.'"—Lucan, v. 653.] ”

Michel de Montaigne

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Quotes from The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XIII. Of judging of the death of another… (Michel de Montaigne)

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