Summary
Montaigne explores the difference between fleeting moments of heroism and true virtue that shows up consistently in daily life. He argues that anyone can have brief flashes of extraordinary courage or wisdom, but genuine virtue means maintaining good character in ordinary, unglamorous moments. Through vivid examples ranging from ancient philosophers to contemporary stories of extreme actions, he demonstrates how people often mistake dramatic gestures for true moral strength. The chapter examines how the philosopher Pyrrho tried to live according to his beliefs about human uncertainty, sometimes succeeding brilliantly and sometimes failing in petty domestic squabbles. Montaigne shares shocking stories of people driven to extreme acts by passion, jealousy, or religious fervor, contrasting these with the steady devotion of Indian widows who prepare their whole lives for ritual suicide. He explores how beliefs about fate and predestination can either inspire reckless courage or serve as excuses for cowardice. The central insight is that to truly know someone's character, you must observe their everyday habits and reactions to minor irritations, not just their responses to major crises. Real virtue isn't about spectacular moments of heroism but about the quiet consistency of doing right when no one is watching and nothing dramatic is at stake.
Coming Up in Chapter 86
From examining the nature of virtue and character, Montaigne turns his attention to physical abnormalities and what they reveal about human nature's endless variety. He will explore how society responds to those who are different and what these reactions tell us about ourselves.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
OF VIRTUE I find by experience, that there is a good deal to be said betwixt the flights and emotions of the soul or a resolute and constant habit; and very well perceive that there is nothing we may not do, nay, even to the surpassing the Divinity itself, says a certain person, forasmuch as it is more to render a man’s self impassible by his own study and industry, than to be so by his natural condition; and even to be able to conjoin to man’s imbecility and frailty a God-like resolution and assurance; but it is by fits and starts; and in the lives of those heroes of times past there are sometimes miraculous impulses, and that seem infinitely to exceed our natural force; but they are indeed only impulses: and ‘tis hard to believe, that these so elevated qualities in a man can so thoroughly tinct and imbue the soul that they should become ordinary, and, as it were, natural in him. It accidentally happens even to us, who are but abortive births of men, sometimes to launch our souls, when roused by the discourses or examples of others, much beyond their ordinary stretch; but ‘tis a kind of passion which pushes and agitates them, and in some sort ravishes them from themselves: but, this perturbation once overcome, we see that they insensibly flag and slacken of themselves, if not to the lowest degree, at least so as to be no more the same; insomuch as that upon every trivial occasion, the losing of a bird, or the breaking, of a glass, we suffer ourselves to be moved little less than one of the common people. I am of opinion, that order, moderation, and constancy excepted, all things are to be done by a man that is very imperfect and defective in general. Therefore it is, say the Sages, that to make a right judgment of a man, you are chiefly to pry into his common actions, and surprise him in his everyday habit. Pyrrho, he who erected so pleasant a knowledge upon ignorance, endeavoured, as all the rest who were really philosophers did, to make his life correspond with his doctrine. And because he maintained the imbecility of human judgment to be so extreme as to be incapable of any choice or inclination, and would have it perpetually wavering and suspended, considering and receiving all things as indifferent, ‘tis said, that he always comforted himself after the same manner and countenance: if he had begun a discourse, he would always end what he had to say, though the person he was speaking to had gone away: if he walked, he never stopped for any impediment that stood in his way, being preserved from precipices, collision with carts, and other like accidents, by the care of his friends: for, to fear or to avoid anything, had been to shock his own propositions, which deprived the senses themselves of all election and certainty. Sometimes he suffered incision and...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Everyday Character - Why Small Moments Reveal Everything
People's true nature is revealed not in dramatic moments but in how they handle ordinary, unglamorous situations when no one important is watching.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to evaluate people's real nature by observing their behavior in mundane moments rather than dramatic ones.
Practice This Today
This week, notice how people handle minor frustrations—slow internet, wrong coffee orders, small mistakes—because these reveal more about character than their responses to major crises.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Stoicism
A philosophy that teaches emotional control and accepting what you cannot change. Stoics believed virtue comes from reason, not emotion, and that true strength means staying calm under pressure.
Modern Usage:
We see this in therapy approaches like CBT, or when people say 'control what you can control' during stressful times.
Virtue
In Montaigne's time, virtue meant moral excellence and strength of character. It wasn't about following rules, but about consistently doing right even when it's hard or no one's watching.
Modern Usage:
Today we might call this 'having integrity' or 'being authentic' - doing the right thing even when it costs you something.
Passion
Strong emotions that temporarily overwhelm reason and judgment. Montaigne uses this to describe intense feelings that make people act dramatically but don't last.
Modern Usage:
Like when someone gets road rage, sends an angry text they regret, or makes big decisions while emotional that they later question.
Constancy
The ability to maintain the same principles and behavior over time, regardless of circumstances. Montaigne sees this as the mark of true character.
Modern Usage:
This is like being the same person whether you're talking to your boss or the janitor - consistency in how you treat people.
Suttee
The Indian practice where widows would burn themselves on their husband's funeral pyre. Montaigne uses this as an example of cultural conditioning and extreme devotion.
Modern Usage:
We see similar cultural conditioning in how people sacrifice everything for careers, relationships, or social expectations without questioning why.
Pyrrhonism
A philosophy of extreme skepticism that questions whether we can know anything for certain. Named after the philosopher Pyrrho, who tried to live without making judgments.
Modern Usage:
Like people who are so afraid of being wrong that they never take a strong position on anything, or who respond to everything with 'well, that's just your opinion.'
Characters in This Chapter
Pyrrho
philosophical example
An ancient philosopher who tried to live according to his skeptical beliefs, sometimes succeeding in maintaining calm detachment but often failing in petty domestic situations. Montaigne uses him to show how hard it is to live consistently by your principles.
Modern Equivalent:
The self-help guru who preaches mindfulness but loses it in traffic
Cato
heroic exemplar
A Roman politician famous for his moral integrity and dramatic suicide rather than submit to Caesar. Montaigne presents him as someone whose virtue was tested in extreme circumstances but questions whether this proves everyday character.
Modern Equivalent:
The whistleblower who makes headlines for one brave act
Indian widows
cultural examples
Women who prepared their entire lives for ritual suicide after their husbands died. Montaigne uses them to explore how cultural conditioning can create what looks like extraordinary virtue or devotion.
Modern Equivalent:
People who sacrifice everything for their job or family expectations without questioning if it's what they actually want
Key Quotes & Analysis
"It is more to render a man's self impassible by his own study and industry, than to be so by his natural condition"
Context: Discussing whether learned virtue is superior to natural temperament
Montaigne suggests that choosing to be calm and controlled through effort is more admirable than just being naturally even-tempered. This challenges the idea that some people are just 'naturally good' - he values the work people put into becoming better.
In Today's Words:
It's more impressive when someone works to stay cool under pressure than when they're just naturally chill.
"These so elevated qualities in a man can so thoroughly tinct and imbue the soul that they should become ordinary, and, as it were, natural in him"
Context: Questioning whether heroic moments prove lasting character
Montaigne doubts that dramatic acts of courage or virtue actually change someone's fundamental nature. He's skeptical that peak moments reveal who we really are - instead, he thinks our everyday habits matter more.
In Today's Words:
Just because someone does something amazing once doesn't mean they're an amazing person all the time.
"This perturbation once overcome, we see that they insensibly flag and slacken of themselves"
Context: Describing how people return to normal after moments of inspiration
He observes that after being moved by great examples or speeches, people gradually drift back to their usual behavior. This supports his argument that true virtue must be sustainable, not just inspirational.
In Today's Words:
After the motivational high wears off, people go back to their old habits.
Thematic Threads
Authenticity
In This Chapter
Montaigne distinguishes between performing virtue and actually being virtuous, showing how people often mistake dramatic gestures for genuine character
Development
Builds on earlier themes about self-knowledge and the gap between public persona and private reality
In Your Life:
You might notice this when someone who seems impressive in meetings turns out to be difficult in day-to-day collaboration
Social Performance
In This Chapter
The chapter explores how people behave differently when they know they're being watched versus when they think no one cares
Development
Extends previous discussions about how social expectations shape behavior and identity
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself being more patient with difficult customers when your supervisor is nearby than when you're alone
Character Assessment
In This Chapter
Montaigne argues that we should judge people by their ordinary habits and reactions to minor irritations, not their responses to major crises
Development
Introduced here as a practical framework for understanding human nature
In Your Life:
You might realize you've been fooled by someone's grand promises while ignoring their pattern of small disappointments
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
True virtue requires consistency in mundane moments rather than occasional spectacular acts of goodness
Development
Deepens earlier themes about self-improvement being an ongoing process rather than dramatic transformation
In Your Life:
You might recognize that becoming a better person means changing how you handle daily frustrations, not waiting for opportunities to be heroic
Self-Awareness
In This Chapter
The chapter challenges readers to examine their own patterns of behavior in ordinary versus extraordinary circumstances
Development
Continues Montaigne's consistent theme of honest self-examination and recognition of human complexity
In Your Life:
You might notice the gap between how you want to be seen and how you actually behave when you're tired or stressed
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
What's the difference between someone doing one heroic act and someone having true virtue, according to Montaigne?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Montaigne think we should judge people's character by how they handle small, everyday situations rather than dramatic moments?
analysis • medium - 3
Think of someone you know who seems great in public but acts differently in private situations. What does this tell you about their real character?
application • medium - 4
How would you apply Montaigne's insight about 'everyday virtue' when deciding whether to trust someone with something important?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about why it's so hard to truly know ourselves and change our automatic responses?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Character Detective: Map Real vs. Performed Behavior
Choose someone you interact with regularly - a coworker, family member, or friend. Create two columns: 'Public/Crisis Moments' and 'Private/Ordinary Moments.' List specific examples of how they behave in each type of situation. Look for patterns and contradictions. This isn't about judging them harshly, but about understanding the difference between performed character and automatic responses.
Consider:
- •Focus on behaviors you've actually witnessed, not assumptions or gossip
- •Notice if their ordinary moments reveal kindness, impatience, generosity, or selfishness
- •Consider what this exercise reveals about your own character patterns
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you acted one way in public but differently in private. What does this reveal about the gap between who you want to be and your automatic responses? How could you work on closing that gap?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 86: What Makes Us Different Makes Us Human
As the story unfolds, you'll explore to question what society labels as 'normal' or 'abnormal', while uncovering our perspective shapes what we see as miraculous or monstrous. These lessons connect the classic to contemporary challenges we all face.