Chapter 49
Fashion, Custom, and Human Folly
OF ANCIENT CUSTOMS I should willingly pardon our people for admitting no other pattern or rule of perfection than their own peculiar manners and customs; for ‘tis a common vice, not of the vulgar only, but almost of all men, to walk in the beaten road their ancestors have trod before them. I am content, when they see Fabricius or Laelius, that they look upon their countenance and behaviour as barbarous, seeing they are neither clothed nor fashioned according to our mode. But I find fault with their singular indiscretion in suffering themselves to be so blinded and imposed upon…
Public-domain chapter text, formatted for reading.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"admitting no other pattern or rule of perfection than their own peculiar manners and customs; for ‘tis a common vice, not of the vulgar only, but almost of all men, to walk in the beaten road their ancestors have trod before them."
Context: Opening vice
Local as universal.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says he would pardon people for admitting no other rule of perfection than their own peculiar manners and customs, a common vice of nearly all men, not only the vulgar. We universalize our habits. When you call another culture barbarous, check whether you mean different or actually wrong.
"when they see Fabricius or Laelius, that they look upon their countenance and behaviour as barbarous, seeing they are neither clothed nor fashioned according to our mode."
Context: Roman superiority
Mirror blindness.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says Romans seeing Fabricius or Laelius judged their countenance and behaviour barbarous because they were neither clothed nor fashioned after the Roman mode. Difference reads as defect. Notice when you mistake unfamiliar style for lack of virtue, intelligence, or basic dignity in the person.
"madness crept in amongst them, that infatuates their understandings to this strange degree."
Context: Fashion reversals
Memory erased.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says when fashions reverse, a madness crept in that infatuates understandings to a strange degree, as if no one recalled ever thinking otherwise. Certainty replaces history almost overnight. Save evidence of what you once believed before the next trend makes you loudly deny it.
"white ears of the ass, against whom no mocking tongue is thrust out, as the tongue of the thirsty Apulian dog."
Context: Public mockery
Crowd polices walk.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne quotes Persius on men who cannot stir abroad without fingers pointed, white ears of the ass mocked behind them, and tongues thrust out in scorn. Streets enforce conformity. Ask how much of your behavior is courage and how much is fear of looking odd in public.
Thematic Threads
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Montaigne shows how people passionately defend whatever customs are currently popular, then mock those same customs later
Development
Expanded from earlier chapters to show how social pressure creates false certainty
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself defending workplace policies you privately think are stupid just because they're current practice
Identity
In This Chapter
Our sense of what's 'right' or 'normal' shifts completely based on what society currently accepts
Development
Builds on earlier themes of self-knowledge by showing how external forces shape internal beliefs
In Your Life:
You might realize your strong opinions about parenting or relationships are just absorbed from your current social circle
Class
In This Chapter
Different social groups develop different customs, each convinced their way is obviously superior
Development
Continues exploration of how social position shapes perspective
In Your Life:
You might notice how your family's way of handling money or conflict feels 'natural' until you encounter other approaches
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
True growth requires stepping back from social pressure to examine beliefs independently
Development
Advances the theme by showing intellectual independence as a learnable skill
In Your Life:
You might start questioning which of your strong convictions are actually just temporary social programming
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 people defend doublet styles 'stiffly' then later laugh at the same fashion as 'intolerable'?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
He's showing how we passionately defend whatever's currently popular, then completely forget our old convictions when trends change. The same person who insisted high doublets were perfect later mocks that exact style.
- 2
Why does Montaigne compare our fashion changes to 'madness' that 'infatuates' people's understanding?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
Because we treat temporary preferences as absolute truths. When everyone simultaneously shifts opinions about something trivial, it reveals how groupthink can override individual judgment.
- 3
Where do you see Montaigne's doublet example playing out in today's technology, food, or lifestyle trends?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Social media platforms we once loved become 'cringe.' Dietary advice flips from low-fat to low-carb. Open offices were revolutionary, then toxic. We defend each trend passionately until the next one arrives.
- 4
How could you use Montaigne's Roman customs list to help someone reconsider a strong opinion they hold?
application • deepOne way to read it
Show them how many 'obvious' practices vary across cultures. Romans ate lying down and bathed together daily. If basic customs differ this much, maybe our current 'common sense' isn't universal truth.
- 5
What does Montaigne's observation about Roman versus modern customs reveal about how we form judgments?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
We mistake familiarity for correctness. Most of our strong opinions come from absorbing whatever surrounds us, not from careful reasoning. Recognizing this helps us think more independently.
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Time Traveler Test
Pick something you feel strongly about right now—a workplace rule, parenting approach, or social expectation. Imagine explaining this belief to someone from 100 years ago and someone from 100 years in the future. Write down what each person might find confusing or ridiculous about your position. Then identify what core principle (if any) remains constant across all three time periods.
Consider:
- •Notice when you feel defensive about explaining your position—that's often a sign you're defending custom rather than principle
- •Pay attention to which parts of your belief seem obviously universal versus culturally specific
- •Consider whether the core value could be expressed differently in different times and places
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you changed your mind about something important. What triggered the change? How did you feel about your previous belief afterward? What does this reveal about how social pressure shapes your thinking?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 50: Two Ways to See the World
After customs mocked and reversed, Montaigne weighs two philosophers' faces at the same human spectacle. Democritus will laugh whenever he steps abroad while Heraclitus weeps with tears in his eyes.
