Welcome to The PATH (Monday Meditation): A weekly reflection with insights into daily life. This week’s reflection continues our series exploring the writing and philosophy of Michel de Montaigne.
Mondays with Montaigne
The philosopher Montaigne (1533—1592) described his philosophy this way, “My art and profession is to live.” Montaigne believed there is no knowledge so hard to acquire as knowing how to live this life well and naturally. Today, he is best known for popularizing the essay as a literary genre. He described his goal in The Essays as to describe himself with utter frankness and honesty.
***Today’s meditation is Part IV of our series on Montaigne. Previously we discussed, The Wisdom of Montaigne, Montaigne’s view on judgment, curiosity, and questioning everything, and How to Philosophize — Like Montaigne.
The Wisdom of Solitude
What comes to mind when you think of solitude? For some, thoughts of peace and tranquility arise, and for others, the topic gives rise to anxiety.
In a letter titled On Solitude, Montaigne wrote,
Ambition, covetousness, irresolution, fear and desires do not abandon us just because we have changed our landscape. … They often follow us into the very cloister and the schools of philosophy. …
Socrates was told that some man had not been improved by travel. ‘I am sure he was not,’ he said. ‘He went with himself!’
Montaigne observed that one does not find tranquility in a particular location or the practice of solitude. “If you do not first lighten yourself and your soul of the weight of your burdens,” stressed Montaigne, “moving about will only increase their pressure on you….”
We take our troubles with us.
Therefore, freedom is not secured by solitude alone.
According to Montaigne,
Now since we are undertaking to live, without companions, by ourselves, let us make our happiness depend on ourselves; let us loosen ourselves from the bonds which tie us to others; let us gain power over ourselves to live really and truly alone – and of doing so in contentment.
Similarly, the theologian and Trappist Monk Thomas Merton suggested that learning to be alone is a path to peace and a deeper connection in the world. “The person who fears to be alone will never be anything but lonely,” according to Merton, “no matter how much they surround themselves with people.”
But the person who learns, in solitude and recollection, will find peace in their loneliness. Montaigne believed that we could turn in on ourselves. We should not fear that solitude shall be crouching in painful idleness:
“In lonely places, be a crowd unto yourself.”
Montaigne suggests that we have lived quite enough for others: let us live at least this tail-end of life for ourselves. “Let us bring our thoughts and reflections back to ourselves and our own well-being. … The greatest thing in the world is to know how to live to yourself.”
“Whoever can turn round the duties of love and fellowship and pour them into himself should do so.”
— Montaigne
The practice of solitude can feel selfish. But it shouldn’t.
It requires courage and connection to turn inward.
The theologian Henri Nouwen made this point in his classic The Way of the Heart, “It is this nothingness (in solitude) that I have to face in my solitude, a nothingness so dreadful that everything in me wants to run to my friends, my work, and my distractions so that I can forget my nothingness and make myself believe that I am worth something.”
Nouwen advised,
The task is to persevere in my solitude, to stay in my cell until all my seductive visitors get tired of pounding on my door and leave me alone. The wisdom of the desert is that the confrontation with our own frightening nothingness forces us to surrender…”
The path is to practice solitude despite the opposition.
When we consistently find the courage to enter the desert of our loneliness, we begin cultivating a garden of solitude.
Montaigne concluded,
You have devoted your life to the light: devote what remains to obscurity. It is impossible to give up your pursuits if you do not give up their fruits. Renounce all concern for name and glory. … Among other gratifications, give up the one which comes from other people’s approval.
“You and one companion are audiences enough for each other,” observed Montaigne, “so are you for yourself. For you, let the crowd be one, and one be a crowd.” Montaigne calls us to understand that we are enough alone. He points out that it is easy to neglect ourselves. And that it is wise to bring our thoughts and reflections back to ourselves and our own well-being.
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Thank you for reading; I hope you found something useful.
Until next time, be wise and be well,
P.S. Feel free to comment, ask questions, or make suggestions!
The Wisdom of Solitude - According to Montaigne
Thank you for this article! It made me very emotional and pushed me to reflect on myself and the ways I « cope » with solitude. It indeed shouldn’t be feared as we can find empowerment through these moments of solitude & make the most out of it!