Montaigne, Michel Eyquem seigneur de (1533-1592)

Apology for Raymond Sebond [from Essays]

1580

The Pyrrhonist's mind "is a white sheet prepared to take from the finger of God what form soever it shall please him to imprint therein."

It is better for us to suffer the order of the world to manage us without further inquisition. A mind warranted from prejudice, hath a marvellous preferment to tranquility. Men that censure and controule their judges, doe never duly submit themselves unto them. How much more docile and tractable are simple and uncurious mindes found both towards the lawes of religion and Politike decrees, than these over-vigilant and nice wits, teachers of divine and humane causes? there is nothing in mans invention, wherein is so much likelyhood, possibilitie and profit [as in Pyrrhonism]. This representeth man bare and naked, acknowledging his naturall weaknesse, apt to receive from above some strange power, disfurnished of all humane knowledge, and so much the more fitte to harbour divine understanding, disannulling his judgment, that so he may give more place unto faith: Neither misbeleeving nor establishing any doctrine or opinion repugnant unto common lawes and observances, humble, obedient, disciplinable and studious; a sworne enemy to Heresie, and by consequence exempting himselfe from all vaine and irreligious opinions, invented and brought up by false Sects. It is a white sheet prepared to take from the finger of God what form soever it shall please him to imprint therein.
(pp. 211-212)

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Reading Bredvold, Louis. The Intellectual Milieu of John Dryden. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press, 1962. p. 32.

Bredvold uses c19 edition: Montaigne. Essays. trans. Florio. London: 1893.

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04/06/2005