Chapter 70
When Our Mind Gets in Its Own Way
THAT OUR MIND HINDERS ITSELF ‘Tis a pleasant imagination to fancy a mind exactly balanced betwixt two equal desires: for, doubtless, it can never pitch upon either, forasmuch as the choice and application would manifest an inequality of esteem; and were we set betwixt the bottle and the ham, with an equal appetite to drink and eat, there would doubtless be no remedy, but we must die of thirst and hunger. To provide against this inconvenience, the Stoics, when they are asked whence the election in the soul of two indifferent things proceeds, and that makes us, out of a…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"fancy a mind exactly balanced betwixt two equal desires"
Context: Paralysis thought
Perfect tie impossible.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne imagines a mind exactly balanced betwixt two equal desires that can never choose either side, since choosing would reveal unequal esteem between them. Perfect ties freeze action completely. If you are stuck, suspect you are demanding an impossible balance rather than listening to a small pull you already feel.
"betwixt the bottle and the ham, with an equal appetite to drink and eat, there would doubtless be no remedy, but we must die of thirst and hunger"
Context: Absurd standoff
Indifference kills.
In Today's Words:
Set betwixt bottle and ham with equal appetite to drink and eat, Montaigne says there would be no remedy but to die of thirst and hunger. The example is comic but sharp. Do not let analysis of equal options block the modest preference that would move you.
"nothing presents itself to us wherein there is not some difference, how little soever"
Context: Against Stoics
Hidden tilt.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne answers Stoics that nothing presents itself wherein there is not some difference, however little, by sight or touch tempting us toward one side. Perfect equality between options is a fiction. Trust the faint lean you notice before you call the choice impossible and refuse to act at all.
"Solum certum nihil esse certi, et homine nihil miserius ant superbius"
Context: Closing paradox
Certainty only doubt.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne quotes Pliny that the only certain thing is that nothing is certain, and nothing is more miserable or prouder than man in his demands. Demanding full proof before action is pride disguised as caution. Act on the best lean you have while holding your conclusions lightly enough to revise when new evidence appears.
Thematic Threads
Uncertainty
In This Chapter
Montaigne argues that perfect knowledge is impossible and that accepting uncertainty is liberating rather than limiting
Development
Introduced here as a fundamental human condition
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you delay important decisions waiting for certainty that will never come
Overthinking
In This Chapter
The mind creates elaborate philosophical problems from simple choices, turning practical decisions into mental torture
Development
Introduced here as a self-created trap
In Your Life:
You might see this when you spend more time researching a purchase than you'll spend using the item
Instinct
In This Chapter
Subtle preferences and barely-noticed inclinations actually guide our choices more than we realize
Development
Introduced here as an undervalued decision-making tool
In Your Life:
You might notice this when your first instinct about a person or situation proves more accurate than your careful analysis
Practical Wisdom
In This Chapter
True wisdom lies in accepting imperfection and moving forward rather than seeking impossible certainty
Development
Introduced here as an alternative to philosophical paralysis
In Your Life:
You might apply this when choosing to act on good-enough information rather than perfect information
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 argue happens when someone faces two perfectly equal choices, like being equally hungry and thirsty?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
He suggests we'd be paralyzed and unable to choose either option, potentially dying from indecision. But he argues this scenario is actually impossible because nothing is ever truly equal.
- 2
Why does Montaigne's packthread example work to challenge the Stoics' idea that we make random choices between equal options?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
The string can't break because there's no weak point to start from. Similarly, we always find some tiny difference to guide our choices, even when things seem identical.
- 3
Where do you see people getting stuck between seemingly equal choices in today's world?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Choosing between similar job offers, restaurants, or streaming shows. People often overthink these decisions when small preferences could guide them, like company culture or a friend's recommendation.
- 4
How would you apply Montaigne's insight about subtle differences when helping someone stuck between two college majors?
application • deepOne way to read it
Instead of demanding they find major logical differences, help them notice small preferences: which professors they connect with, which coursework feels more engaging, or which path sparks curiosity.
- 5
What does Montaigne's embrace of Pliny's quote about uncertainty reveal about how we should approach difficult decisions?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Accepting that perfect certainty is impossible frees us from paralysis. We can trust our subtle instincts rather than demanding absolute proof before acting.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Decision Archaeology
Think of a decision you've been putting off or overthinking. Write down what you think are the 'equal' options. Then dig deeper: what tiny preferences, gut feelings, or instincts are you ignoring? What would you choose if you had to decide in the next five minutes, and why?
Consider:
- •Notice how your mind creates false equality between options that probably aren't actually equal
- •Pay attention to the subtle preferences you're trying to rationalize away
- •Consider what you're really afraid will happen if you choose 'wrong'
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you made a quick decision based on instinct that turned out better than expected. What did that teach you about trusting your subtle preferences over endless analysis?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 71: Why We Want What We Can't Have
After paralysis between equal choices, Montaigne studies wanting what resists us. Lycurgus will make Spartan lovers meet by stealth because difficulty sharpens desire, and forbidden fruit will taste far sweeter than what comes too easily to the eager mind.
