Chapter 36
Don't Judge Others By Your Own Standards
OF CATO THE YOUNGER [“I am not possessed with this common errour, to judge of others according to what I am my selfe. I am easie to beleeve things differing from my selfe. Though I be engaged to one forme, I do not tie the world unto it, as every man doth. And I beleeve and conceive a thousand manners of life, contrary to the common sorte.” --Florio, ed. 1613, p. 113.] I am not guilty of the common error of judging another by myself. I easily believe that in another’s humour which is contrary to my own; and though…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I am not guilty of the common error of judging another by myself."
Context: Opening principle
Sets the essay's tolerance.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says he is not guilty of the common error of judging another by himself. He can respect a life he does not choose without treating difference as defect. When you dislike how someone lives, ask first whether you are measuring them against your own habits.
"virtue owns nothing to be hers, but what is done by herself and for herself alone."
Context: Definition of real virtue
Rejects mixed motives.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says virtue owns nothing except what is done by herself and for herself alone, without profit, glory, or fear. Glory, profit, and fear can mimic goodness without making it real. Before you praise an act, ask what would remain if nobody ever knew it happened.
"did not, however, allow him any prize, by reason that his virtue had been incited by a desire to clear his reputation from the reproach of his miscarriage at the business of Thermopylae, and to die bravely to wipe off that former blemish."
Context: Aristodemus at Plataea
Bravery with impure motive.
In Today's Words:
The Spartans denied Aristodemus a prize at Plataea though he fought most bravely, because he sought to clear the stain of Thermopylae. Courage done to repair reputation is not the same as virtue done for its own sake. Notice when your effort is really trying to erase an old embarrassment.
"true, supreme, and divine poesy is above all rules and reason."
Context: Cato praised by poets
Great art exceeds analysis.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says true, supreme, and divine poesy is above all rules and reason, overwhelming judgment like lightning. The highest praise of Cato strikes the reader before analysis can catch up. Some excellence will always outrun the clever explanation you want to put on it afterward.
Thematic Threads
Judgment
In This Chapter
Montaigne advocates for generous interpretation of others' motives rather than cynical suspicion
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself assuming the worst about a coworker's success or questioning someone's kindness.
Identity
In This Chapter
Montaigne admits his own lack of discipline while respecting monks, showing secure self-knowledge
Development
Builds on earlier themes of honest self-assessment
In Your Life:
You can respect lifestyles different from yours without feeling threatened or defensive about your own choices.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
The essay critiques society's tendency to tear down heroes and question pure virtue
Development
Continues exploration of how social pressure distorts authentic behavior
In Your Life:
You might notice how gossip and cynicism in your workplace or community discourage people from trying to excel.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
True virtue must come from internal motivation, not external rewards or approval
Development
Deepens earlier discussions about authentic versus performative behavior
In Your Life:
You can examine whether your good actions come from genuine care or from wanting recognition and praise.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
What does Montaigne mean when he says he can admire monks' discipline while lacking it himself?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
He's rejecting the idea that we can only respect what we personally practice. You can recognize virtue in others even when you struggle with it yourself.
- 2
Why did the Spartans deny honors to Aristodemus despite his bravery at Plataea?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
His courage came from wanting to redeem past shame, not pure virtue. The Spartans believed true virtue must be internally motivated, not driven by external needs.
- 3
Where do you see people today judging others by their own standards instead of appreciating differences?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Social media often shows this - people attacking different parenting styles, career choices, or lifestyles simply because they wouldn't make those choices themselves.
- 4
How would you apply Montaigne's generous interpretation principle when someone's motives seem questionable?
application • deepOne way to read it
Give them the benefit of the doubt first. If a colleague gets promoted, assume merit before assuming politics. This creates better relationships and might reveal truths you'd miss.
- 5
What does the cynical tendency to assume selfish motives reveal about how we see ourselves?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
We often project our own limitations onto others. If we struggle with pure motives, we assume everyone else does too, which blinds us to genuine greatness.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Practice Generous Judgment
Think of someone whose recent success or good deed you initially questioned or felt suspicious about. Write down your first reaction, then deliberately practice Montaigne's generous judgment—what's the most positive interpretation of their actions? Notice what changes in how you feel about both them and yourself.
Consider:
- •Your initial suspicion might reveal more about your own insecurities than about their motives
- •Generous judgment doesn't mean being naive—it means choosing the better interpretation when evidence is unclear
- •Notice how cynicism affects your own capacity to do good—when we expect the worst from others, we often deliver it ourselves
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone judged your good intentions harshly. How did it feel? How might you avoid doing this to others, and what would change in your relationships if you practiced generous judgment consistently?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 37: Why We Laugh and Cry Simultaneously
After generous judgment and Cato's praise, Montaigne turns to mixed feeling. Caesar will turn from Pompey's head, brides will weep at the threshold, and Xerxes will pass from joy to tears in one glance.
