“Lately when I retired to my home, determined so far as possible to bother about nothing except spending the little life I have left in rest and seclusion, it seemed to me I could do my mind no greater favor then to let it entertain itself in full idleness and stay and settle in itself, which I hoped it might do more easily now, having become weightier and riper with time. But I find - Ever idle hours breed wandering thoughts”- -that, on the contrary, like a runaway horse, it gives itself a hundred times more trouble than it took for others, and gives birth to so many chimeras and fantastic monsters, one after another, without order or purpose, that in order to contemplate their ineptitude and strangeness at my pleasure, I have begun to put them in writing, hoping in time to make my mind ashamed of itself. –
Montaigne (circa 1572-74 quoting and extending on Lucan).
Russel, thank you for this. It made me want to pick up my Montaigne book. Here's Montaigne's "To the Reader"
"This is an honest book, reader. It warns you from the outset that in it I have set myself no goal but a domestic and private one. I have no thought of serving neither you or my own glory. My powers are inadequate for such a purpose. I have dedicated it to the private convenience of my relatives and friends, so that when they have lost me (as they must do soon), they may recover here some traits of my habits and humors, and by this means keep the knowledge they have had of me more completed and alive.
If I had written to seek the world's favor, I should have bedecked myself better, and should present myself in a studied posture. I want to be seen here in my simple, natural, ordinary fashion, without pose or artifice; for it is myself that I portray. My defects will here be read to the life, and my natural form, as far as respect for the public has allowed. If I had belonged to tone of those nations which are said to live still in the sweet freedom of Nature's first laws, I assure you I should most gladly have portrayed myself here entire and wholly naked.
Thus, reader, I am myself the matter of my book; you would be unreasonable to spend your leisure on so frivolous and vain a subject.
So farewell from Montaigne, this first day of March, fifteen hundred and eighty. (L note...he died in 1592).
2 comments:
From “On Idleness”
“Lately when I retired to my home, determined so far as possible to bother about nothing except spending the little life I have left in rest and seclusion, it seemed to me I could do my mind no greater favor then to let it entertain itself in full idleness and stay and settle in itself, which I hoped it might do more easily now, having become weightier and riper with time. But I find
- Ever idle hours breed wandering thoughts”-
-that, on the contrary, like a runaway horse, it gives itself a hundred times more trouble than it took for others, and gives birth to so many chimeras and fantastic monsters, one after another, without order or purpose, that in order to contemplate their ineptitude and strangeness at my pleasure, I have begun to put them in writing, hoping in time to make my mind ashamed of itself. –
Montaigne (circa 1572-74 quoting and extending on Lucan).
Russel, thank you for this. It made me want to pick up my Montaigne book. Here's Montaigne's "To the Reader"
"This is an honest book, reader. It warns you from the outset that in it I have set myself no goal but a domestic and private one. I have no thought of serving neither you or my own glory. My powers are inadequate for such a purpose. I have dedicated it to the private convenience of my relatives and friends, so that when they have lost me (as they must do soon), they may recover here some traits of my habits and humors, and by this means keep the knowledge they have had of me more completed and alive.
If I had written to seek the world's favor, I should have bedecked myself better, and should present myself in a studied posture. I want to be seen here in my simple, natural, ordinary fashion, without pose or artifice; for it is myself that I portray. My defects will here be read to the life, and my natural form, as far as respect for the public has allowed. If I had belonged to tone of those nations which are said to live still in the sweet freedom of Nature's first laws, I assure you I should most gladly have portrayed myself here entire and wholly naked.
Thus, reader, I am myself the matter of my book; you would be unreasonable to spend your leisure on so frivolous and vain a subject.
So farewell from Montaigne, this first day of March, fifteen hundred and eighty. (L note...he died in 1592).
Post a Comment