Summary
Montaigne argues that reading about life isn't enough—you need actual practice to handle real challenges. He observes how ancient philosophers deliberately sought out hardships to train themselves, like choosing poverty or physical discomfort, because they knew that when crisis struck, they'd need experience, not just ideas. The one exception is death—we can only experience it once, so we're all beginners when it comes to dying. Montaigne then shares a vivid personal story about nearly dying in a horseback accident. Thrown unconscious and bleeding, he experienced what he believes death might feel like: not painful or frightening, but strangely peaceful, like drifting into sleep. When he regained consciousness hours later, he realized his imagination had made death seem far more terrifying than the actual experience. This near-death encounter taught him that many of our fears are magnified by our minds—when he was healthy, he pitied sick people more than he pitied himself when actually ill. The chapter reveals Montaigne's core belief that we learn about ourselves through direct experience, not abstract thinking. His willingness to examine his own brush with death, despite social taboos against self-examination, demonstrates his commitment to honest self-knowledge as the path to wisdom.
Coming Up in Chapter 64
Having explored how practice prepares us for life's ultimate challenge, Montaigne next examines how society rewards those who face such challenges—and whether the honors we give truly match the courage required to earn them.
Share it with friends
An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
SE MAKES PERFECT ‘Tis not to be expected that argument and instruction, though we never so voluntarily surrender our belief to what is read to us, should be of force to lead us on so far as to action, if we do not, over and above, exercise and form the soul by experience to the course for which we design it; it will, otherwise, doubtless find itself at a loss when it comes to the pinch of the business. This is the reason why those amongst the philosophers who were ambitious to attain to a greater excellence, were not contented to await the severities of fortune in the retirement and repose of their own habitations, lest he should have surprised them raw and inexpert in the combat, but sallied out to meet her, and purposely threw themselves into the proof of difficulties. Some of them abandoned riches to exercise themselves in a voluntary poverty; others sought out labour and an austerity of life, to inure them to hardships and inconveniences; others have deprived themselves of their dearest members, as of sight, and of the instruments of generation, lest their too delightful and effeminate service should soften and debauch the stability of their souls. But in dying, which is the greatest work we have to do, practice can give us no assistance at all. A man may by custom fortify himself against pain, shame, necessity, and such-like accidents, but as to death, we can experiment it but once, and are all apprentices when we come to it. There have, anciently, been men so excellent managers of their time that they have tried even in death itself to relish and taste it, and who have bent their utmost faculties of mind to discover what this passage is, but they are none of them come back to tell us the news: “Nemo expergitus exstat, Frigida quern semel est vitai pausa sequuta.” [“No one wakes who has once fallen into the cold sleep of death.” --Lucretius, iii. 942] Julius Canus, a noble Roman, of singular constancy and virtue, having been condemned to die by that worthless fellow Caligula, besides many marvellous testimonies that he gave of his resolution, as he was just going to receive the stroke of the executioner, was asked by a philosopher, a friend of his: “Well, Canus, whereabout is your soul now? what is she doing? What are you thinking of?”--“I was thinking,” replied the other, “to keep myself ready, and the faculties of my mind full settled and fixed, to try if in this short and quick instant of death, I could perceive the motion of the soul when she parts from the body, and whether she has any sentiment at the separation, that I may after come again if I can, to acquaint my friends with it.” This man philosophises not unto death only, but in death itself. What a strange assurance was this, and what bravery of courage, to desire his death should be a lesson to...
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Lived Experience
The dangerous disconnect between what we think we know and what we can actually handle when reality strikes.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to recognize when your imagination creates fears worse than actual experience.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're avoiding something difficult—then ask yourself if you're scared of the actual task or your imagination of it.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Stoic Philosophy
Ancient Greek and Roman philosophy that taught people to prepare for hardship by deliberately practicing difficult situations. Stoics believed you could train your mind to stay calm during crisis by experiencing smaller versions of problems beforehand.
Modern Usage:
We see this in modern resilience training, exposure therapy, and the saying 'what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.'
Voluntary Poverty
The practice of choosing to live with less money and fewer possessions to build mental toughness. Ancient philosophers did this to prove they could be happy without material comfort and to prepare for potential financial loss.
Modern Usage:
Similar to people today who practice minimalism, live below their means, or take on challenges like living on minimum wage for a month.
Self-Examination
The practice of honestly looking at your own thoughts, feelings, and experiences to understand yourself better. In Montaigne's time, this was considered unusual because people focused more on external authorities than inner reflection.
Modern Usage:
We see this in therapy, journaling, meditation, and the modern emphasis on self-awareness and personal growth.
Near-Death Experience
A situation where someone comes very close to dying and gains insights about death and life from that experience. Montaigne uses his horseback accident to understand what dying might actually feel like versus what we imagine it feels like.
Modern Usage:
Modern medicine recognizes near-death experiences as providing valuable insights about consciousness and the dying process.
Experience vs. Theory
The difference between knowing something intellectually and actually living through it. Montaigne argues that reading about courage or pain doesn't prepare you the same way as actually facing difficult situations.
Modern Usage:
This shows up in the difference between book learning and hands-on experience, like knowing about parenting versus actually raising kids.
Mental Rehearsal
The practice of imagining difficult scenarios before they happen to prepare yourself mentally. Ancient philosophers would visualize losing everything they valued to reduce the shock if it actually occurred.
Modern Usage:
Athletes use visualization, emergency responders practice drills, and people mentally prepare for job interviews or difficult conversations.
Characters in This Chapter
Montaigne
Narrator and subject
He shares his personal near-death experience from a horseback accident, analyzing how his actual experience of almost dying differed from his fears about death. He uses this to argue that direct experience teaches us more than abstract thinking.
Modern Equivalent:
The person who shares their medical scare or accident story to help others understand what it's really like
Ancient Philosophers
Examples and mentors
Montaigne describes how these thinkers deliberately chose hardship - poverty, physical discomfort, even self-mutilation - to train themselves for life's difficulties. They serve as examples of people who practiced what they preached.
Modern Equivalent:
The fitness trainer who actually follows their own tough workout routine
Key Quotes & Analysis
"A man may by custom fortify himself against pain, shame, necessity, and such-like accidents, but as to death, we can experiment it but once, and are all apprentices when we come to it."
Context: He's explaining why death is different from other life challenges
This reveals the unique nature of death as the one experience we can't practice for. It shows Montaigne's practical approach to life preparation while acknowledging death's mystery.
In Today's Words:
You can practice handling pain and embarrassment, but when it comes to dying, we're all beginners.
"Practice can give us no assistance at all"
Context: Discussing why death is the ultimate unknown experience
This highlights the limits of preparation and experience. Even someone as focused on practical wisdom as Montaigne admits there are things we simply cannot rehearse for.
In Today's Words:
There's no way to practice for this one.
"We can experiment it but once"
Context: Explaining why death is fundamentally different from other life experiences
This phrase captures the finality and uniqueness of death. It shows Montaigne's acceptance of human limitations while still valuing the preparation we can do for other challenges.
In Today's Words:
You only get one shot at this.
Thematic Threads
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Montaigne learns about himself through his near-death experience, gaining insights no book could provide
Development
Evolution from earlier intellectual discussions to direct personal revelation
In Your Life:
You discover who you really are during crises, not during comfortable times
Fear
In This Chapter
Montaigne realizes his fear of death was worse than the actual experience of nearly dying
Development
Introduced here as the gap between imagination and reality
In Your Life:
Most things you dread turn out to be less terrible than your mind made them
Self-Knowledge
In This Chapter
He examines his own brush with death despite social taboos against such self-reflection
Development
Deepening from earlier chapters about honest self-examination
In Your Life:
Real wisdom comes from studying your own experiences, not just other people's advice
Preparation
In This Chapter
Ancient philosophers deliberately sought hardships to train themselves for real challenges
Development
Introduced here as the difference between theory and practice
In Your Life:
You need practice runs at difficult things before the stakes get high
Reality vs Imagination
In This Chapter
His actual near-death experience was peaceful, unlike his fearful expectations
Development
Introduced here as a core human tendency
In Your Life:
Your worst-case scenarios are usually worse than what actually happens
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Why does Montaigne say that ancient philosophers deliberately chose hardships like poverty or discomfort?
analysis • surface - 2
How did Montaigne's actual near-death experience differ from what he had imagined death would be like?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people today avoiding 'practice runs' that would prepare them for bigger challenges?
application • medium - 4
Think of something you've been dreading or avoiding. How might your anticipation be worse than the actual experience would be?
application • deep - 5
What does Montaigne's willingness to examine his own brush with death reveal about how we learn about ourselves?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Practice Run Planning
Identify one challenge you might face in the next year - a difficult conversation, a new responsibility, or a situation that makes you nervous. Then design three 'practice runs' with progressively higher stakes that would prepare you for the real thing, starting with something you could try this week.
Consider:
- •Your first practice should feel manageable, not overwhelming
- •Each step should build skills you'll need for the bigger challenge
- •Remember that your anticipation is probably worse than reality
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when something you dreaded turned out to be less terrible than you expected. What did that teach you about the difference between imagination and reality?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 64: The True Value of Recognition
Having explored how practice prepares us for life's ultimate challenge, Montaigne next examines how society rewards those who face such challenges—and whether the honors we give truly match the courage required to earn them.
