The Essays is a collection of philosophic arguments by the French Renaissance writer Michel Eyquem de Montaigne. As such, Montaigne makes a number of critical observations concerning sixteenth-century French society and proposes a number of suggestions by which individuals can improve themselves and avoid succumbing to certain corrupting influences. Montaigne touches on a large number of different topics from emotions to rationality, to good and bad governance and it would be impossible to go through them all at length here, but The Essays does have some recurring themes which pepper his work. One of the most prevalent themes in The Essays, to which Montaigne attaches a significant amount of emphasis, concerns the nature of knowledge. Montaigne is very critical of those members of elite French society who he believes have developed a mastery over words and flattery but for whom true knowledge is only a pipe dream.
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Montaigne thinks in the same way as his diary. There is no trivial matter in the diary, but a lot of thoughtful thinking. In my imagination, he is always in his studies, holding a pen, perhaps sitting for a day, thinking, recording, living in harmony with life. There must have been a window in that study as he could see the world, and see himself. Montaigne’s attitude to philosophy was to look at the people and things around him with rational thinking and pursue the essence of things. He does not suppress the loveliness of human nature but to guide the real-life with philosophical thinking.