Seldom has a philosopher devoted so much effort to writing about human nature. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) spent two decades doing research about philosophy and psychology, gathering lessons about happiness.
Montaigne’s objective was to identify the best patterns of behaviour, those that promote individual and social happiness. He read everything about Socrates (470-399 BC), as recorded by Plato (427-347 BC) in his dialogues, trying to draw advice applicable to his own life.
Most sources consulted by Montaigne came from ancient Greece and Rome; he was fluent in Latin, and this enabled him to read Cicero (106-43 BC) and Seneca (4 BC-65 AD) in their mother tongue; for reading Greek authors, he resorted to Latin translations.
Which lessons did Montaigne draw from his wide research on human nature? First, he noted that times of crisis bring forth the best and the worst of human nature. When people are under high pressure, they fall back to their default personality, for the positive and for the negative aspects.
Second, he witnessed that modesty, persistence, tolerance, and prudence are more conductive to happiness than arrogance and prejudice. He viewed haughtiness and excessive ambition and sure recipes for self-destruction.
Montaigne’s essay “On recompenses, rewards and honours”
Montaigne’s essay “On recompenses, rewards and honours” warns about external motivations. Beware of people driven by the desire to become famous. More often than not, they tend to be superficial and vain, ready to cut corners to attain their goal.
I agree with Montaigne that we should define carefully our goals before devoting years or decades to pursuing them. Fame and popularity constitute fleeting rewards. Even in favourable conditions, they cannot deliver lasting satisfaction.
Do you want to make your self-esteem depend on someone else’s opinion, asks Montaigne. I certainly don’t, but popularity and fame possess intense sweetness.
When Montaigne wrote about “recompenses, rewards and honours,” he was mainly referring to public office or military distinctions.
Why are those recompenses, rewards and honours difficult to resist? Because they bring enormous short-term advantages, for which the price will be due only much later.
Montaigne warned against the temptation of compromising one’s integrity in order to achieve popularity, public acceptance or financial gain. He repeatedly praised historical figures who resisted those temptations because they rated them unethical.
Montaigne’s views on human nature at its best
Cato (95-46 BC) was one of Montaigne’s favourite heroes, precisely because he was willing to relinquish everything to keep his integrity. Cato gave his moral values a higher weight than wealth, fame or popularity.
Similarly, Montaigne mentioned the ancient Greek general Epaminondas, who had shown a profound reluctance to accept prizes or honours of any kind. Even after achieving a hard-won military victory in 371 BC, Epaminondas remained modest and gave credit to his soldiers.
Modesty and prudence, argued Montaigne, are worth more than gold because they enhance one’s safety. For wealthy men and women is particularly advisable to keep a low profile and stay out of the limelight. Fame can make them a target for all sort of criminals. Why should they take such a risk?
Montaigne endorsed Socrates’ views on recompenses, prizes and rewards. He regarded them as “pointless and unnecessary.” For a self-reliant individual, his own opinion of himself carries more weight than everybody else’s opinions.
A wise person, explained Montaigne, should concentrate on learning, self-development, and happiness. Instead of seeking external validation, we should focus on practical achievements.
Montaigne was fond of reading good books, working on his garden and moderate travelling. He could have afforded a more exciting lifestyle, but he preferred to focus on the essentials.
In his early thirties, he had quit a promising career in public office and retired to live in his farm. By then, he had already gasped that fleeting fame is not worth chasing. His goal was to find happiness in enjoyable daily routines, and in this respect, he attained a phenomenal success.
If you are interested in putting rational ideas into practice in all sort of situations, day in and day out, I recommend you my book “Thriving in difficult times.”