Montaigne's Essays

by Michel de Montaigne

For other English-language translations of this work, see Essays (Michel de Montaigne).

Table of Contents

• Florio's Preface
• To the curteous Reader
• Dedicatory Poems
• The Author to the Reader

The First Booke

• Chapter I. By divers Meanes men come unto a like End
• Chapter II. Of Sadnesse or Sorrowe
• Chapter III. Our Affections are transported beyond our selves
• Chapter IV. How the Soule dischargeth her Passions upon false objects, when the true faile it
• Chapter V. Whether the Captaine of a Place Besieged ought to sallie forth to Parlie
• Chapter VI. That the Houre of Parlies is dangerous
• Chapter VII. That our Intention judgeth our Actions
• Chapter VIII. Of Idlenesse
• Chapter IX. Of Lyers
• Chapter X. Of Readie or Slow Speech
• Chapter XI. Of Prognostications
• Chapter XII. Of Constancie
• Chapter XIII. Of Ceremonies in the enterview of Kings
• Chapter XIV. Men are punished by too-much opiniating themselves in a place without reason
• Chapter XV. Of the punishment of Cowardise
• Chapter XVI. A tricke of certaine Ambassadors
• Chapter XVII. Of Feare
• Chapter XVIII. That we should not judge of our Happinesse untill after our Death
• Chapter XIX. That to Philosophise is to learn how to die
• Chapter XX. On the force of Imagination
• Chapter XXI. The profit of one man is the dammage of another
• Chapter XXII. Of customs, and how a received law should not easily be changed
• Chapter XXIII. Divers events from one selfsame counsell
• Chapter XXIV. Of Pedantisme
• Chapter XXV. Of the Institution and Education of Children; to the Ladie Diana of Foix
• Chapter XXVI. It is follie to referre Truth or Falsehood to our sufficiencie
• Chapter XXVII. Of Friendship
• Chapter XXVIII. Nine and twentie Sonnets of Steven de la Boetie, to the Lady of Grammont
• Chapter XXIX. Of Moderation
• Chapter XXX. Of the Caniballes
• Chapter XXXI. That a Man ought soberly to meddle with judging of Divine Lawes
• Chapter XXXII. To avoid Voluptuousnesse in regard of Life
• Chapter XXXIII. That Fortune is oftentimes met withall in pursuit of Reason
• Chapter XXXIV. Of a Defect in our Policies
• Chapter XXXV. Of the Use of Apparell
• Chapter XXXVI. Of Cato the younger
• Chapter XXXVII. How we weepe and laugh at one selfe-same thing
• Chapter XXXVIII. Of Solitarinesse
• Chapter XXXIX. A consideration upon Cicero
• Chapter XL. That the taste of Goods or Evils doth greatly depend on the opinion we have of them
• Chapter XLI. That a Man should not communicate his Glorie
• Chapter XLII. Of the Inequalitie that is betweene us
• Chapter XLIII. Of Sumptuarie Lawes, or Lawes for moderating of Expenses
• Chapter XLIV. Of Sleeping
• Chapter XLV. Of the Battell of Dreux
• Chapter XLVI. Of Names
• Chapter XLVII. Of the uncertaintie of our Judgement
• Chapter XLVIII. Of Steeds, called in French Destriers
• Chapter XLIX. Of ancient Customes
• Chapter L. Of Democritus and Heraclitus
• Chapter LI. Of the Vanitie of Words
• Chapter LII. Of the Parcimonie of our Forefathers
• Chapter LIII. Of a saying of Cæsar
• Chapter LIV. Of vaine Subtlities, or subtill Devices
• Chapter LV. Of Smels and Odors
• Chapter LVI. Of Praiers and Orisons
• Chapter LVII. Of Age

The Second Booke

• Florio's Preface
• Chapter I. Of the inconstancie of our Actions
• Chapter II. Of Drunkennesse
• Chapter III. A Custome of the Ile of Cea
• Chapter IV. To-morrow is a New Day
• Chapter V. Of Conscience
• Chapter VI. Of Exercise or Practice
• Chapter VII. Of the Recompenses or Rewards of Honour
• Chapter VIII. Of the Affections of Fathers to their Children: To the Lady of Estissac
• Chapter IX. Of the Parthians Armes
• Chapter X. Of Bookes
• Chapter XI. Of Crueltie
• Chapter XII. An Apologie of Raymond Sebond
• Chapter XIII. Of Judging of others' Death
• Chapter XIV. How that our Spirit hindereth itself
• Chapter XV. That our Desires are encreased by Difficultie
• Chapter XVI. Of Glory
• Chapter XVII. Of Presumption
• Chapter XVIII. Of giving the Lie
• Chapter XIX. Of the Liberty of Conscience
• Chapter XX. We taste nothing purely
• Chapter XXI. Against Idlenesse, or doing Nothing
• Chapter XXII. Of Running Posts, or Couriers
• Chapter XXIII. Of Bad Meanes emploied to a Good End
• Chapter XXIV. Of the Roman Greatnesse
• Chapter XXV. How a Man should not Counterfeit to be Sicke
• Chapter XXVI. Of Thumbs
• Chapter XXVII. Cowardize the Mother of Cruelty
• Chapter XXVIII. All Things have their Season
• Chapter XXIX. Of Vertue
• Chapter XXX. Of a Monstrous Child
• Chapter XXXI. Of Anger and Choler
• Chapter XXXII. A Defence of Seneca and Plutarke
• Chapter XXXIII. The Historie of Spurina
• Chapter XXXIV. Observations concerning the meanes to warre after the maner of Julius Cæsar
• Chapter XXXV. Of Three Good Women
• Chapter XXXVI. Of the Worthiest and Most Excellent Men
• Chapter XXXVII. Of the Resemblance betweene Children and Fathers

The Third Booke

• Florio's Preface
• Chapter I. Of Profit and Honesty
• Chapter II. Of Repenting
• Chapter III. Of Three Commerces or Societies
• Chapter IV. Of Diverting and Diversions
• Chapter V. Upon some Verses of Virgil
• Chapter VI. Of Coaches
• Chapter VII. Of the Incommoditie of Greatnesse
• Chapter VIII. Of the Art of Conferring
• Chapter IX. Of Vanitie
• Chapter X. How one ought to governe his Will
• Chapter XI. Of the Lame or Crippel
• Chapter XII. Of Phisiognomy
• Chapter XIII. Of Experience