Chapter 63
Practice Makes Perfect
USE MAKES PERFECT ‘Tis not to be expected that argument and instruction, though we never so voluntarily surrender our belief to what is read to us, should be of force to lead us on so far as to action, if we do not, over and above, exercise and form the soul by experience to the course for which we design it; it will, otherwise, doubtless find itself at a loss when it comes to the pinch of the business. This is the reason why those amongst the philosophers who were ambitious to attain to a greater excellence, were not contented…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"voluntarily surrender our belief to what is read to us, should be of force to lead us on so far as to action, if we do not, over and above, exercise and form the soul by experience"
Context: Argument insufficient
Need practice.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says argument and instruction, though we surrender belief to what we read, cannot lead us to action unless we exercise and form the soul by experience to the course we design. Books alone stall at the pinch. Pair every principle you admire with a repeated action that tests it under pressure.
"practice can give us no assistance at all. A man may by custom fortify himself against pain, shame, necessity, and such-like accidents, but as to death, we can experiment it but once, and are all apprentices when we come to it"
Context: Death unrehearsed
One trial only.
In Today's Words:
In dying, the greatest work we have to do, practice can give us no assistance at all; we experiment death but once and are all apprentices when we come to it. No full dress rehearsal exists. Use smaller trials like sleep, pain, and shock to approach the fear without pretending you have mastered the exit.
"custom fortify himself against pain, shame, necessity, and such-like accidents, but as to death, we can experiment it but once, and are all apprentices when we come to it."
Context: Habit's limits
Training helps.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says a man may by custom fortify himself against pain, shame, necessity, and such accidents, but death allows no repeated experiment we can learn from twice. Habit hardens some blows but not the final one. Build routines that thicken your tolerance for discomfort you can safely practice before the irreversible test.
"Whosoever shall so know himself, let him boldly speak it out."
Context: Socratic close
Self-knowledge earned.
In Today's Words:
Because Socrates alone digested know thyself and arrived at setting himself at nought, Montaigne says whosoever shall so know himself may boldly speak it out. Honest self-study earns speech rather than vanity. Do the inward work first, then decide what of yourself is worth saying aloud to others.
Thematic Threads
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Montaigne learns about himself through his near-death experience, gaining insights no book could provide
Development
Evolution from earlier intellectual discussions to direct personal revelation
In Your Life:
You discover who you really are during crises, not during comfortable times
Fear
In This Chapter
Montaigne realizes his fear of death was worse than the actual experience of nearly dying
Development
Introduced here as the gap between imagination and reality
In Your Life:
Most things you dread turn out to be less terrible than your mind made them
Self-Knowledge
In This Chapter
He examines his own brush with death despite social taboos against such self-reflection
Development
Deepening from earlier chapters about honest self-examination
In Your Life:
Real wisdom comes from studying your own experiences, not just other people's advice
Preparation
In This Chapter
Ancient philosophers deliberately sought hardships to train themselves for real challenges
Development
Introduced here as the difference between theory and practice
In Your Life:
You need practice runs at difficult things before the stakes get high
Reality vs Imagination
In This Chapter
His actual near-death experience was peaceful, unlike his fearful expectations
Development
Introduced here as a core human tendency
In Your Life:
Your worst-case scenarios are usually worse than what actually happens
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
Why does Montaigne say philosophers deliberately sought poverty and hardship instead of just reading about virtue?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
Because reading alone doesn't prepare you for real challenges. When crisis hits, you need actual experience handling difficulty, not just theoretical knowledge about how to be brave.
- 2
Why is death the one exception to Montaigne's rule that practice makes perfect?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
You can only die once, so there's no way to rehearse it. Unlike pain or shame, which you can train for through repeated exposure, death offers no second chances to learn from mistakes.
- 3
Where do you see people today learning more from direct experience than from advice or instruction?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Parenting, starting a business, or dealing with loss. You can read countless books about raising kids, but nothing truly prepares you for the reality of sleepless nights and tantrums.
- 4
How would you apply Montaigne's insight about imagination versus reality to prepare for a major challenge you're facing?
application • deepOne way to read it
Recognize that anxiety often magnifies threats. Like Montaigne pitying the sick more when healthy, I might seek small exposures to the challenge rather than avoiding it completely.
- 5
What does Montaigne's peaceful near-death experience suggest about how we construct our deepest fears?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Our imagination often creates more suffering than reality delivers. The anticipation and dread we build around ultimate experiences may be far worse than the experiences themselves.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Practice Run Planning
Identify one challenge you might face in the next year - a difficult conversation, a new responsibility, or a situation that makes you nervous. Then design three 'practice runs' with progressively higher stakes that would prepare you for the real thing, starting with something you could try this week.
Consider:
- •Your first practice should feel manageable, not overwhelming
- •Each step should build skills you'll need for the bigger challenge
- •Remember that your anticipation is probably worse than reality
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when something you dreaded turned out to be less terrible than you expected. What did that teach you about the difference between imagination and reality?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 64: The True Value of Recognition
After practice and the swoon that resembled death, Montaigne weighs cheap honors. Augustus will be liberal with gifts yet sparing with laurel crowns that cost a prince nothing.
