300 Quotes of Renaissance Philosophy

Author Bio: Michel de Montaigne

Michel de Montaigne (Michel Eyquem, Seigneur de Montaigne) was born in 1533, the son and heir of Pierre, Seigneur de Montaigne—two previous children having died soon after birth. He was brought up to speak Latin as his mother tongue and always retained a Latin turn of mind. After studying law, he became counselor to the Parlement of Bordeaux. He married in 1565 and in 1571 retired to his lands at Montaigne, where he devoted himself to reading and reflection and to composing his Essays. He loathed the fanaticism and cruelties of the religious wars of the period. He was elected Mayor of Bordeaux twice, a post he held for four years. He died at Montaigne in 1592 while preparing the final, and richest, edition of his Essays.