downright, upon his paper than myself.
To bring the more in, I only muster up the heads; should I annex the
sequel I should trebly multiply the volume. And how many stories have
I scattered up and down in this book, that I only touch upon, which,
should anyone more curiously search into, they would find matter
enough to produce infinite essays. Neither those stories nor my
quotations always serve simply for example, authority, or ornament; I
do not only regard them for the use I make of them; they carry
sometimes, besides what I apply them to, the seed of a more rich and a
bolder matter, and sometimes, collaterally, a more delicate sound,
both to myself, who will say no more about it in this place, and to
others who shall be of my humour."

IV.

The real and esoteric Montaigne is, like Nietzsche, a herald of
revolt, one of the most revolutionary thinkers of all times. And the
Gascon philosopher who philosophizes with a smile is far more
dangerous than the Teuton who philosophizes with a hammer. The
corrosive acid of his irony is more destructive than the violence of
the other. Like Nietzsche, Montaigne transvalues all our moral values.
Nothing is absolute; everything is relative. There is no law in
morals.

"The laws of conscience, which we pretend to be derived from nature,
proceed from custom; everyone having an inward veneration for the
opinions and manners approved and received amongst his own people,
cannot, without very great reluctance, depart from them, nor apply
himself to them without applause."

There is no absolute law in politics. And one form of government is as
good as another.

"Such people as have been bred up to liberty, and subject to no other
dominion but the authority of their own will, look upon all other
forms of government as monstrous and contrary to nature. Those who are
inured to monarchy do the same; and what opportunity soever fortune
presents them with to change, even then, when with the greatest
difficulties they have disengaged themselves from one master, that was
troublesome and grievous to them, they presently run, with the same
difficulties, to create another; being unable to take into hatred
subjection itself."

There is no law in religion. There is no justification in patriotism.
The choice of religion is not a matter of conscience or of reason, but
of custom and climate. We are Christians by the same title as we are
Perigordins or Germans.

V.

If to destroy all hum