Learning About Oneself By Montaigne Analysis

Matthew Smith; Phil 125w; Paper 5:Montaigne; 14 October 2015
Learning About Oneself from Writing Throughout Selections from the Essays Montaigne, by Donald M. Frame, Montaigne could know himself by writing about himself. Montaigne wrote these essays in order to have an understanding of himself. Montaigne seemed like he revealed he knew he was courageous. Montaigne said, “Still I am pleased at this, that my opinions have the honor of often coinciding with theirs, and that at least I go the same way… I know the vast differences between them and me” (7). Montaigne realized he would not be able to achieve the writing level of the great writers before him. He did not try to cover up this weakness, but instead showed courage by moving forward even though he knew he would not be a great writer. He came up with his own thoughts that might have gone along with the previous great writers. In that case, it was good he and the great writers had the same ideas. It seems Montaigne had revealed he is courageous because even though he realized he would never be on the same level as the previous great writers, he continued to write for himself in order to find self-knowledge. …show more content…
Montaigne offered his opinions and thoughts to the public. The goal was to find out who he was by revealing his opinions. Maybe after some time passed, his thoughts changed after revisiting what he had wrote. That change could have helped him realize what his beliefs about topics are. In a sense, this showed Montaigne had courage to reveal his opinions about topics to find knowledge about his