Chapter 59
The Hierarchy of Vice and Human Weakness
OF DRUNKENNESS The world is nothing but variety and disemblance, vices are all alike, as they are vices, and peradventure the Stoics understand them so; but although they are equally vices, yet they are not all equal vices; and he who has transgressed the ordinary bounds a hundred paces: “Quos ultra citraque nequit consistere rectum,” [“Beyond or within which the right cannot exist.” --Horace, Sat., i, 1, 107.] should not be in a worse condition than he that has advanced but ten, is not to be believed; or that sacrilege is not worse than stealing a cabbage: “Nec vincet ratio…
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Key Quotes & Analysis
"drunk as the devil, know their post, remember the word, and keep to their ranks: “Nec facilis victoria de madidis, et Blaesis, atque mero titubantibus."
Context: German discipline
Drunk yet orderly.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says we see Germans, when drunk as the devil, still know their post, remember the word, and keep to their ranks. Training can survive intoxication better than judgment does. Do not assume a habit is harmless because someone can still function on duty while doing it.
"wine, in those who have drunk beyond measure, vents the most inward secrets: “Tu sapientum Curas et arcanum jocoso Consilium retegis Lyaeo."
Context: Secrets spilled
Cup as confession.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says wine in those who have drunk beyond measure vents the most inward secrets, as ferment works upward in a vessel. What was buried rises without asking permission. Treat heavy drinking as a security risk to judgment and discretion, not only to balance and coordination.
"Stilpo, when oppressed with age, purposely hastened his end by drinking pure wine."
Context: Chosen exit
Wine as tool.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says the philosopher Stilpo, oppressed with age, purposely hastened his end by drinking pure wine, and Arcesilaus did similarly without planning it. The same cup can end a life or escape a mood. Ask what a substance loosens in you before you treat it as mere recreation.
"extend the pleasure of drinking beyond thirst, and forge in his imagination an appetite artificial and against nature; my stomach would not proceed so far; it has enough to do to deal with what it takes in for its necessity."
Context: Against excess
Appetite outruns need.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne cannot understand how a man extends the pleasure of drinking beyond thirst and forges an appetite artificial and against nature. His own stomach stops at necessity. When you drink past need, notice whether you are chasing sensation because the evening itself feels strangely empty.
Thematic Threads
Judgment
In This Chapter
Montaigne argues for nuanced moral judgment rather than blanket condemnation of all vices
Development
Builds on earlier themes of avoiding rigid thinking and embracing complexity
In Your Life:
You face this when deciding how seriously to take different mistakes your kids, coworkers, or friends make.
Human Weakness
In This Chapter
Drunkenness represents the ultimate human vulnerability—losing the rational control that defines us
Development
Continues Montaigne's exploration of human frailty and the need for honest self-assessment
In Your Life:
You see this in your own moments of poor self-control, whether with food, spending, anger, or other impulses.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Society's blanket condemnation of drunkenness ignores the complexity of human behavior and circumstances
Development
Extends earlier discussions about the gap between social ideals and human reality
In Your Life:
You experience this when others judge your struggles without understanding your circumstances or pressures.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
True wisdom involves acknowledging our vulnerabilities rather than pretending to be invulnerable
Development
Deepens the theme of honest self-knowledge as the foundation for growth
In Your Life:
You grow when you stop pretending you don't have weaknesses and start managing them realistically.
Class
In This Chapter
Different social classes have different relationships with alcohol and different consequences for the same behaviors
Development
Continues exploring how social position affects judgment and consequences
In Your Life:
You notice this in how the same mistake gets treated differently depending on who makes it and their social standing.
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 makes Montaigne say that treating all vices equally is dangerous for murderers and tyrants?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
He argues that when we pretend stealing a cabbage equals sacrilege, serious criminals benefit by having their crimes minimized while minor offenders are unfairly condemned.
- 2
Why does Montaigne's story about the drunk widow work so powerfully to illustrate his point about drunkenness?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
It shows the complete loss of self-control and awareness that makes drunkenness uniquely degrading. She was so unconscious she didn't even know she'd been assaulted.
- 3
Where do you see Montaigne's observation that 'everyone overrates their companions' offenses but minimizes their own' today?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Social media pile-ons where people condemn others for minor mistakes while excusing their own behavior. Or workplace gossip where we judge colleagues harshly but rationalize our own shortcuts.
- 4
How would you apply Montaigne's hierarchy of vices when deciding consequences for rule-breaking in your family or workplace?
application • deepOne way to read it
Consider intent, harm caused, and circumstances. A teenager lying about homework isn't the same as embezzling money. Match consequences to actual damage done, not just rule-breaking.
- 5
What does Montaigne's admission about his own relationship with wine reveal about honest self-examination?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
True wisdom involves acknowledging our contradictions and weaknesses without pretending to be perfect. He can criticize drunkenness while understanding why people drink.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Scale the Consequences
Think of three different 'wrong' behaviors you've witnessed recently - maybe at work, in your family, or in the news. Write them down, then rank them by actual harm caused (not by how 'wrong' they seem). For each one, design a consequence that matches the real impact rather than the category of wrongdoing.
Consider:
- •Consider who was actually hurt and how severely
- •Think about whether the person can make amends or learn from this
- •Ask what response would prevent future harm without crushing the person
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you were judged too harshly for a minor mistake, or when someone you cared about faced consequences that didn't fit their actions. How did that experience change your view of fairness?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 60: Death as the Ultimate Freedom
After wine and loosened tongues, Montaigne turns to chosen death. Agis will say we live free by despising death, and a woman on Ceos will invite Pompey to witness her poison.
