Summary
Montaigne reveals a powerful psychological strategy he discovered while consoling a grieving woman: diversion works better than direct argument. Instead of telling her why she shouldn't grieve, he gradually shifted the conversation to other topics, leading her away from sorrow without her realizing it. This technique, he argues, works because most of our emotional pain comes from dwelling on surface details rather than confronting core truths. He shares historical examples of diversion in action - from military tactics to the myth of Atalanta, who was distracted from winning a race by golden apples. Montaigne applies this insight to his own life, describing how he once cured himself of a devastating heartbreak by deliberately falling in love with someone else. The essay explores why we're so easily moved by small, superficial things - the sound of a name, the sight of familiar clothes, fleeting memories - while missing larger truths. Even facing death, people find comfort in distractions rather than accepting reality directly. Montaigne suggests this isn't weakness but human nature: we're built to be affected by immediate, tangible details more than abstract concepts. Understanding this pattern helps us both manage our own emotions and help others navigate theirs with compassion rather than logic.
Coming Up in Chapter 98
In his final major essay, Montaigne turns to one of literature's most provocative topics - examining how physical desire and spiritual love intertwine, using Virgil's poetry as his guide into the complexities of human passion.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
OF DIVERSION I was once employed in consoling a lady truly afflicted. Most of their mournings are artificial and ceremonious: “Uberibus semper lacrymis, semperque paratis, In statione subatque expectantibus illam, Quo jubeat manare modo.” [“A woman has ever a fountain of tears ready to gush up whenever she requires to make use of them.”--Juvenal, vi. 272.] A man goes the wrong way to work when he opposes this passion; for opposition does but irritate and make them more obstinate in sorrow; the evil is exasperated by discussion. We see, in common discourse, that what I have indifferently let fall from me, if any one takes it up to controvert it, I justify it with the best arguments I have; and much more a thing wherein I had a real interest. And besides, in so doing you enter roughly upon your operation; whereas the first addresses of a physician to his patient should be gracious, gay, and pleasing; never did any ill-looking, morose physician do anything to purpose. On the contrary, then, a man should, at the first approaches, favour their grief and express some approbation of their sorrow. By this intelligence you obtain credit to proceed further, and by a facile and insensible gradation fall into discourses more solid and proper for their cure. I, whose aim it was principally to gull the company who had their eyes fixed upon me, took it into my head only to palliate the disease. And indeed I have found by experience that I have an unlucky hand in persuading. My arguments are either too sharp and dry, or pressed too roughly, or not home enough. After I had some time applied myself to her grief, I did not attempt to cure her by strong and lively reasons, either because I had them not at hand, or because I thought to do my business better another way; neither did I make choice of any of those methods of consolation which philosophy prescribes: that what we complain of is no evil, according to Cleanthes; that it is a light evil, according to the Peripatetics; that to bemoan one’s self is an action neither commendable nor just, according to Chrysippus; nor this of Epicurus, more suitable to my way, of shifting the thoughts from afflicting things to those that are pleasing; nor making a bundle of all these together, to make use of upon occasion, according to Cicero; but, gently bending my discourse, and by little and little digressing, sometimes to subjects nearer, and sometimes more remote from the purpose, according as she was more intent on what I said, I imperceptibly led her from that sorrowful thought, and kept her calm and in good-humour whilst I continued there. I herein made use of diversion. They who succeeded me in the same service did not, for all that, find any amendment in her, for I had not gone to the root. I, peradventure, may elsewhere have glanced upon some sort of public diversions; and the practice...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Strategic Distraction
Emotional pain feeds on focused attention; strategic redirection works better than direct argument or reasoning.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to help people escape destructive thought patterns without invalidating their feelings.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when someone is stuck replaying a grievance or worry, and try gently shifting the conversation to something concrete and present rather than arguing against their feelings.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Diversion
The psychological technique of gradually shifting someone's attention away from their pain or obsession rather than confronting it directly. Montaigne discovered this works better than logical arguments because it doesn't trigger defensive reactions.
Modern Usage:
Therapists use this when they help clients focus on small daily activities instead of lecturing them about their depression.
Ceremonious mourning
Grief that's performed for social expectations rather than felt genuinely. Montaigne observes that much of what we call mourning is actually theatrical display meant to show others our devotion or suffering.
Modern Usage:
We see this in social media posts about tragedies where people compete to show who cares most publicly.
Palliate
To ease or reduce the intensity of something painful without actually curing it. Montaigne uses medical language to describe how he treated emotional pain by making it more bearable rather than eliminating it.
Modern Usage:
This is what we do when we distract a crying child with a toy instead of addressing why they're upset.
Insensible gradation
A change so slow and subtle that the person experiencing it doesn't notice it happening. Montaigne's key insight about how effective emotional healing works - through tiny, unnoticed steps rather than dramatic interventions.
Modern Usage:
Like how Netflix auto-plays the next episode so you don't realize you've been watching for hours.
Artificial passion
Emotions that are manufactured or exaggerated rather than naturally felt. Montaigne distinguishes between genuine grief and the kind people perform because they think they should feel it.
Modern Usage:
When someone posts angry political content they don't really care about just because their social circle expects it.
Credit to proceed
The trust and permission you earn by first validating someone's feelings before trying to help them. Montaigne learned that agreeing with someone's grief gives you the right to gradually guide them elsewhere.
Modern Usage:
Like when a good manager says 'That deadline is really stressful' before suggesting solutions, instead of immediately dismissing concerns.
Characters in This Chapter
The grieving lady
Patient/subject
A woman Montaigne was asked to console who was genuinely afflicted with sorrow. She becomes his test case for discovering that diversion works better than direct argument for emotional healing.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend going through a breakup who won't listen to advice
Atalanta
Mythological example
The Greek heroine who lost a race because she was distracted by golden apples thrown in her path. Montaigne uses her as an example of how diversion can derail even the most focused person.
Modern Equivalent:
The student who gets distracted by their phone while studying
Montaigne
Narrator/experimenter
The author reflects on his own experience using psychological manipulation to help someone, then applies the same technique to cure his own heartbreak by deliberately falling in love with someone else.
Modern Equivalent:
The friend who gives relationship advice based on their own messy dating history
The company watching
Audience/judges
The group of people observing Montaigne's attempt to console the grieving woman. Their presence adds pressure and makes his success or failure public, influencing his approach.
Modern Equivalent:
Family members watching to see if you can handle the relative having a meltdown
Key Quotes & Analysis
"A man goes the wrong way to work when he opposes this passion; for opposition does but irritate and make them more obstinate in sorrow"
Context: Explaining why direct argument fails when trying to console someone grieving
This reveals Montaigne's key psychological insight - that confronting someone's emotions head-on usually backfires. It shows his understanding that humans defend their feelings when challenged, even painful ones.
In Today's Words:
Telling someone to stop being sad just makes them dig in their heels and get sadder.
"By this intelligence you obtain credit to proceed further, and by a facile and insensible gradation fall into discourses more solid and proper for their cure"
Context: Describing his technique of first agreeing with someone's grief before gradually shifting the conversation
This shows Montaigne's sophisticated understanding of emotional manipulation - not malicious, but therapeutic. He recognizes that healing requires trust and patience, not force.
In Today's Words:
Once you show you get it, they'll let you slowly steer the conversation somewhere more helpful.
"I took it into my head only to palliate the disease"
Context: Admitting his goal was to ease the woman's pain rather than cure it completely
This reveals Montaigne's practical wisdom - sometimes helping means making things bearable rather than perfect. It shows his realistic approach to human suffering.
In Today's Words:
I just wanted to make her feel a little better, not fix everything.
Thematic Threads
Human Psychology
In This Chapter
Montaigne reveals how our minds work—we're moved more by tangible details than abstract truths
Development
Builds on earlier observations about self-knowledge and emotional patterns
In Your Life:
You might notice how small reminders trigger big emotions while major life changes feel abstract
Practical Wisdom
In This Chapter
He shares a tested technique for helping others through grief and applies it to his own heartbreak
Development
Continues theme of learning through experience rather than theory
In Your Life:
You can use this when comforting friends or managing your own difficult emotions
Social Navigation
In This Chapter
Understanding how to influence others through redirection rather than confrontation
Development
Expands on earlier themes about reading people and social situations
In Your Life:
You might apply this with difficult coworkers or family members who won't respond to direct approaches
Self-Management
In This Chapter
Montaigne deliberately fell in love with someone else to cure heartbreak
Development
Shows practical application of self-awareness for emotional healing
In Your Life:
You could use strategic focus shifts to break cycles of worry, anger, or sadness in your own life
Human Nature
In This Chapter
Accepts that being moved by small, superficial things isn't weakness but how we're built
Development
Reinforces theme of working with human nature rather than fighting it
In Your Life:
You can stop judging yourself for being affected by seemingly trivial triggers and work with this tendency instead
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
When Montaigne tried to console the grieving woman, what approach worked and what didn't?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Montaigne think diversion works better than direct argument when someone is in emotional pain?
analysis • medium - 3
Where do you see people using distraction techniques today - in parenting, healthcare, or dealing with their own problems?
application • medium - 4
Think of someone you know who's stuck in an emotional spiral. How could you apply Montaigne's approach to help them without being dismissive of their feelings?
application • deep - 5
What does this chapter reveal about why we get caught up in small details when we're hurting, and what does that teach us about managing our own emotional responses?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Distraction Toolkit
Think of a time when you were stuck in emotional pain - heartbreak, grief, anger, or anxiety. List three specific distractions that actually helped you feel better, and three that didn't work or made things worse. Then identify what made the helpful ones different from the unhelpful ones.
Consider:
- •Notice whether helpful distractions engaged your hands, mind, or body actively
- •Consider whether the distraction connected you to other people or isolated you further
- •Think about timing - some distractions work immediately, others only after the initial shock passes
Journaling Prompt
Write about someone in your life who might be stuck in an emotional spiral right now. Based on what you learned about yourself, what specific distraction or gentle redirection could you offer them this week?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 98: Love, Lust, and Life's Pleasures
What lies ahead teaches us to think honestly about desire without shame or pretense, and shows us accepting our physical nature leads to better self-understanding. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.