Michel Eyquem, Seigneur de Montaigne, was born in 1533, the son and heir of Pierre, Seigneur de Montaigne (two previous children dying soon after birth). He was brought up to speak Latin as his mother tongue and always retained a Latin turn of mind; though he knew Greek, he preferred to use translations. After studying law he eventually became counselor to the Parlement of Bordeaux. He married in 1565. In 1569 he published his French version of the Natural Theology of Raymond Sebond; his Apology is only partly a defense of Sebond and sets skeptical limits to human reasoning about God, man and nature. He retired in 1571 to his lands at Montaigne, devoting himself to reading and reflection and to composing his Essays (first version, 1580). He loathed the fanaticism and cruelties of the religious wars of the period, but sided with Catholic orthodoxy and legitimate monarchy. He was twice elected Mayor of Bordeaux (1581 and 1583), a post he held for four years. He died at Montaigne (1592) while preparing the final, and richest, edition of his Essays.

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• EssaysIntroductionTo the ReaderBook One7. That our actions should be judged by our intentions8. On idleness9. On liars10. That no man should be called happy until after his death21. On the power of the imagination22. That one man's profit is another's loss26. On the education of children27. That it is folly to measure truth and error by our own capacity28. On friendship31. On cannibals36. On the custom of wearing clothes47. On the uncertainty of our judgement50. On Democritus and Heraclitus55. On smellsBook Two8. On the affection of fathers for their children10. On books11. On cruelty17. On presumption28. All things have their season32. A defence of Seneca and PlutarchBook Three2. On repentance3. On three kinds of relationships6. On vehicles8. On the art of conversation12. On physiognomy13. On experience