'Retain a healthy contempt for your fellow-men, and especially for those who urge you to do so.'

« Méfiez-vous de tout le monde et en particulier de ceux qui conseillent de vous méfier. »

 

These words are not by Montaigne, but by his inspirational bosom friend and soul-mate Etienne de la Boétie.  Some people have thought, erroneously, that la Boétie's seminal work,  THE ANTI-DICTATOR, might well have been written by Montaigne.  Its revolutionary message can be summarised thus:  

 

The great mystery of politics is the obedience given to rulers.
Why do people agree to be looted, exploited, forced to bear arms, and in many other ways allow themselves to be oppressed by tyrants, governments and petty overlords ? 

Not because of fear -  for our consent is required. And that consent can be non-violently withdrawn.

Read a sonnet from La Boétie to Montaigne here.  

All following quotations
are by Michel de Montaigne himself. 

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