What Do I Know?

Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was born on his family estate in Aquitaine, not far from Bordeaux. Raised speaking Greek and Latin, he studied law before embarking on a career of public service, first as a counselor of court in Périgueux and Bordeaux, then as a courtier to Charles IX. Following the death of his father, Montaigne retired from public life to the Tower of his château to read and write. He published the first two volumes of his landmark Essays in 1580, with a third following in 1588; the complete Essays appeared posthumously in 1595.

Read Montaigne in order to live

• PART ONEMONTAIGNE ON MONTAIGNE1      On Sorrow2      On how our Actions are to be judged by the Intention3      On Idling4      On Liars5      That we should not be considered happy until we are deadPART TWOON THE PURSUIT OF REASON6      On Fear7      To tell true from false, it is folly to rely on our own capacities8      How we can cry and laugh at the same thing9      On Solitude10    On the Uncertainty of our Judgement11    On DrunkennessPART THREEON GOVERNANCE AND GOVERNORS12    On Cannibals13    On the Inequality that exists between us14    On Sleep15    On our lease of life16    On Carriages