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Understanding Divine Providence: Montaigne and the Fear of Death
The life and Essays of Michel de Montaigne, the sixteenth-century French Catholic philosopher, reveals how accepting the will of God helps a person face the overwhelming fear of mortality–in other words, to embrace death. Montaigne was neither saint, priest, nor … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, God's Providence, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged bible, Christianity, Death, faith, god, Jesus, Montaigne, Providence
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Montaigne and Christianity
Michel de Montaigne, the sixteenth-century French aristocrat, was neither saint, priest, nor monk, rather a worldly man who lived in a secular time of conflict between Protestants and Catholics. Montaigne was a landowner, a government official, and soldier. He was … Continue reading
Posted in Christianity, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged bible, Christianity, faith, god, Jesus
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“The Thing I Fear Most is Fear”
Such were the words of Michel de Montaigne, the French writer of Essays. Like all humans, Montaigne struggled with fear. How did he wrestle with it, try to conquer it? Montaigne was a thinker, alone in a library, his library, … Continue reading
Posted in Michel de Montaigne
Tagged books, Fear, Life, Montaigne, philosophy, writing
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Montaigne’s Lesson about Life
“We are great fools,” Montaigne declared, in Of Experience. “I have done nothing today,” the fool says. “What! Have you not lived?” The living of life is a sufficient task. “Have you known how to . . . manage your … Continue reading
Posted in books, European history, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged Essays, history, Montaigne, philosophy
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Sibyl’s Leaves
One of my favorite authors is Michel de Montaigne, author of Essays. In Montaigne’s final essay, “Of Experience,” he traces his experience with the disease of kidney stones. He wrote about his anxiety and fears, his expectation of death, which became … Continue reading
Posted in books, European history, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged books, Montaigne, Poem
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Montaigne and Repentance
Michel de Montaigne, the French writer of Essays, was a thinker. Alone in a library, his library, pondering. Alone, as he was in conception, as he will be in death. Alone, facing his maker, facing the universe, facing himself. No … Continue reading
Posted in Biography, books, Christianity, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged Essays, Montaigne, Repentance
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Montaigne and Human Folly
In the opening note to the reader in Montaigne’s Essays, the author suggests, since the Essays are only about the experiences and ruminations of Michel de Montaigne himself, that it is folly to read further. Montaigne was quite right, of … Continue reading
Posted in books, Christianity, Michel de Montaigne
Tagged Essays, Human Folly, Montaigne, Skepticism
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Montaigne’s Trials
The French thinker Michel de Montaigne wrote in his essay, Of Books: “I make no doubt that I often . . . speak of things that are much better, and more truly, handled by those who are masters of the … Continue reading
Reflections on Montaigne’s Essays
A year ago, I created this blog, the American Plutarch, to write reflections on a variety of historical, philosophical, and religious topics. I invite responses from readers, as I enjoy a dialogue about the nature of humanity. To me, history, … Continue reading
The American Plutarch 