In contrast to writers in our century, Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) never claimed to be extraordinarily creative. Even during his last years, when it was obvious that he had produced a remarkable output, his attitude remained modest. Historians have speculated whether Montaigne’s talent was innate or acquired, original or the result of imitation, a case…

I define creativity as the ability to do great things with few resources. It is a combination of ingenuity, resourcefulness and focus; note that this definition includes a useful output as a key requirement. Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) is the archetype of long-term literary creativity; while his ingenuity and resourcefulness earned him a prominent place…