the essays of montaigne, v16-第11章
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truth； why do we meet a man with a hunch…back； or any other deformity；
without being moved； and cannot endure the encounter of a deformed mind
without being angry？ this vicious sourness sticks more to the judge than
to the crime。 Let us always have this saying of Plato in our mouths： 〃Do
not I think things unsound； because I am not sound in myself？ Am I not
myself in fault？ may not my observations reflect upon myself？〃a wise
and divine saying； that lashes the most universal and common error of
mankind。 Not only the reproaches that we throw in the face of one
another； but our reasons also； our arguments and controversies； are
reboundable upon us； and we wound ourselves with our own weapons： of
which antiquity。 has left me enough grave examples。 It was ingeniously
and home…said by him； who was the inventor of this sentence：
〃Stercus cuique suum bene olet。〃
＇〃To every man his own excrements smell well。〃Erasmus＇
We see nothing behind us； we mock ourselves an hundred times a day； when
we deride our neighbours； and we detest in others the defects which are
more manifest in us； and which we admire with marvellous inadvertency and
impudence。 It was but yesterday that I heard a man of understanding and
of good rank； as pleasantly as justly scoffing at the folly of another；
who did nothing but torment everybody with the catalogue of his genealogy
and alliances； above half of them false （for they are most apt to fall
into such ridiculous discourses； whose qualities are most dubious and
least sure）； and yet； would he have looked into himself； he would have
discerned himself to be no less intemperate arid wearisome in extolling
his wife's pedigree。 O importunate presumption； with which the wife sees
herself armed by the hands of her own husband。 Did he understand Latin；
we should say to him：
〃Age； si hic non insanit satis sua sponte； instiga。〃
＇〃Come！ if of himself he is not mad enough； urge him on。〃
Terence； And。； iv。 2； 9。＇
I do not say that no man should accuse another； who is not clean
himself；for then no one would ever accuse；clean from the same sort of
spot； but I mean that our judgment； falling upon another who is then in
question； should not； at the same time； spare ourselves； but sentence us
with an inward and severe authority。 'Tis an office of charity； that he
who cannot reclaim himself from a vice； should； nevertheless； endeavour
to remove it from another； in whom； peradventure； it may not have so deep
and so malignant a root； neither do him who reproves me for my fault that
he himself is guilty of the same。 What of that？ The reproof is；
notwithstanding； true and of very good use。 Had we a good nose； our own
ordure would stink worse to us； forasmuch as it is our own： and Socrates
is of opinion that whoever should find himself； his son； and a stranger
guilty of any violence and wrong； ought to begin with himself； present
himself first to the sentence of justice； and implore； to purge himself；
the assistance of the hand of the executioner； in the next place； he
should proceed to his son； and lastly； to the stranger。 If this precept
seem too severe； he ought at least to present himself the first； to the
punishment of his own conscience。
The senses are our first and proper judges； which perceive not things but
by external accidents； and 'tis no wonder； if in all the parts of the
service of our society； there is so perpetual and universal a mixture of
ceremonies and superficial appearances； insomuch that the best and most
effectual part of our polities therein consist。 'Tis still man with whom
we have to do； of whom the condition is wonderfully corporal。 Let those
who； of these late years； would erect for us such a contemplative and
immaterial an exercise of religion； not wonder if there be some who think
it had vanished and melted through their fingers had it not more upheld
itself among us as a mark； title； and instrument of division and faction；
than by itself。 As in conference； the gravity； robe； and fortune of him
who speaks； ofttimes gives reputation to vain arguments and idle words；
it is not to be presumed but that a man； so attended and feared； has not
in him more than ordinary sufficiency； and that he to whom the king has
given so many offices and commissions and charges； he so supercilious and
proud； has not a great deal more in him； than another who salutes him at
so great a distance； and who has no employment at all。 Not only the
words； but the grimaces also of these people； are considered and put into
the account； every one making it his business to give them some fine and
solid interpretation。 If they stoop to the common conference； and that
you offer anything but approbation and reverence； they then knock you
down with the authority of their experience： they have heard； they have
seen； they have done so and so： you are crushed with examples。 I should
willingly tell them； that the fruit of a surgeon's experience； is not the
history of his practice and his remembering that he has cured four people
of the plague and three of the gout； unless he knows how thence to
extract something whereon to form his judgment； and to make us sensible
that he has thence become more skillful in his art。 As in a concert of
instruments； we do not hear a lute； a harpsichord； or a flute alone； but
one entire harmony； the result of all together。 If travel and offices
have improved them； 'tis a product of their understanding to make it
appear。 'Tis not enough to reckon experiences； they must weigh； sort and
distil them； to extract the reasons and conclusions they carry along with
them。 There were never so many historians： it is； indeed； good and of
use to read them； for they furnish us everywhere with excellent and
laudable instructions from the magazine of their memory； which；
doubtless； is of great concern to the help of life； but 'tis not that we
seek for now： we examine whether these relaters and collectors of things
are commendable themselves。
I hate all sorts of tyranny； both in word and deed。 I am very ready to
oppose myself against those vain circumstances that delude our judgments
by the senses； and keeping my eye close upon those extraordinary
greatnesses； I find that at best they are men； as others are：
〃Rarus enim ferme sensus communis in illa
Fortuna。〃
＇〃For in those high fortunes； common sense is generally rare。〃
Juvenal； viii。 73。＇
Peradventure； we esteem and look upon them for less than they are； by
reason they undertake more； and more expose themselves； they do not
answer to the charge they have undertaken。 There must be more vigour and
strength in the bearer than in the burden； he who has not lifted as much
as he can； leaves you to guess that he has still a strength beyond that；
and that he has not been tried to the utmost of what he is able to do； he
who sinks under his load； makes a discovery of his best； and the weakness
of his shoulders。 This is the reason that we see so many silly souls
amongst the learned； and more than those of the better sort： they would
have made good husbandmen； good merchants； and good artisans： their
natural vigour was cut out to that proportion。 Knowledge is a thing of
great weight； they faint under it： their understanding has neither vigour
nor dexterity enough to set forth and distribute； to employ or make use
of this rich and powerful matter； it has no prevailing virtue but in a
strong nature； and such natures are very rareand the weak ones； says
Socrates； corrupt the dignity of philosophy in the handling； it appears
useless and vicious； when lodged in an ill…contrived mind。 They spoil
and make fools of themselves：
〃Humani qualis simulator simius oris；
Quern puer arridens pretioso stamine serum
Velavit； nudasque nates ac terga reliquit；
Ludibrium mensis。〃
＇〃Just like an ape； simulator of the human face； whom a wanton boy
has dizened up in rich silks above； but left the lower parts bare；
for a laughing…stock for the tables。〃
Claudian； in Eutrop。； i 303。＇
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