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From Michel de Montaigne’s essay “On Experience,” translated by J.M. Cohen, page 396

We are great fools (my note: for thinking life is mainly about big accomplishments). ”He has spent his life in idleness,” we say, and “I have done nothing today.” What! Have you not lived? That is not only the fundamental, but the most noble of your occupations. “If I had been put in charge of some great affair, I might have shown what I could do.” Have you been able to reflect on your life and control it? Then you have performed the greatest work of all. To reveal herself and do her work, nature has no need of fortune. She manifests herself equally at all levels, and behind curtains as well as in the open. Our duty is to compose our character, not to compose books, to win not battles and provinces, but order and tranquility in our conduct. Our great and glorious masterpiece is to live properly. All other things- to reign, to lay up treasure, to build – are at the best but little aids and additions.

The Montaigne Experience Project: IN THE OPEN AND ENTHUSIASTIC SPIRIT OF PHILOSOPHER MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE AND DRAWING ON THE VAST CULTURAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ME, I AM ASKING THE QUESTION “WHAT AM I LEARNING ABOUT LIFE ITSELF FROM MY EXPERIENCES WITH ________________?”

Some ways to explore and express your experience with your topic focus:

Conversations, Journal, Poems, Essay

#class 3

#class 2

Of Experience by Montaigne

From Michel de Montaigne’s essay “On Experience,” translated by J.M. Cohen, page 396

We are great fools (my note: for thinking life is mainly about big accomplishments). ”He has spent his life in idleness,” we say, and “I have done nothing today.” What! Have you not lived? That is not only the fundamental, but the most noble of your occupations. “If I had been put in charge of some great affair, I might have shown what I could do.” Have you been able to reflect on your life and control it? Then you have performed the greatest work of all. To reveal herself and do her work, nature has no need of fortune. She manifests herself equally at all levels, and behind curtains as well as in the open. Our duty is to compose our character, not to compose books, to win not battles and provinces, but order and tranquility in our conduct. Our great and glorious masterpiece is to live properly. All other things- to reign, to lay up treasure, to build – are at the best but little aids and additions.

The Montaigne Experience Project: IN THE OPEN AND ENTHUSIASTIC SPIRIT OF PHILOSOPHER MICHEL DE MONTAIGNE AND DRAWING ON THE VAST CULTURAL RESOURCES AVAILABLE TO ME, I AM ASKING THE QUESTION “WHAT AM I LEARNING ABOUT LIFE ITSELF FROM MY EXPERIENCES WITH ________________?”

#class 4