Chapter 72
The Hollow Chase for Glory
OF GLORY There is the name and the thing: the name is a voice which denotes and signifies the thing; the name is no part of the thing, nor of the substance; ‘tis a foreign piece joined to the thing, and outside it. God, who is all fulness in Himself and the height of all perfection, cannot augment or add anything to Himself within; but His name may be augmented and increased by the blessing and praise we attribute to His exterior works: which praise, seeing we cannot incorporate it in Him, forasmuch as He can have no accession of…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"name is a voice which denotes and signifies the thing; the name is no part of the thing, nor of the substance; ‘tis a foreign piece joined to the thing, and outside it."
Context: Name vs substance
Glory external.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says the name is a voice denoting the thing, not part of the substance, but a foreign piece joined outside it. Reputation is not the self. Before you defend your name, ask whether you are protecting something real or only the noise around it.
"double in ourselves, which is the cause that what we believe we do not believe, and cannot disengage ourselves from what we condemn."
Context: Contradiction
Condemn yet crave.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says we are double in ourselves, so what we believe we do not believe and cannot disengage from what we condemn. Even critics want praise. When you mock fame while checking likes, you are living the split he describes, not escaping it Ask what evidence you have beyond the first appetite and social pressure..
"All the glory that I pretend to derive from my life is that I have lived it in quiet"
Context: Quiet as boast
Anti-display.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says all the glory he pretends to derive from his life is that he has lived it in quiet, not as philosophers advertise. His boast is restraint. Ask whether your proudest achievement needs an audience to count as achievement Ask what evidence you have beyond the first appetite and social pressure..
"Every woman of honour will much rather choose to lose her honour than to hurt her conscience"
Context: Duty over fame
Close distinction.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says every woman of honour will much rather choose to lose her honour than hurt her conscience. Duty outranks reputation. When keeping face would cost your integrity, treat the face as expendable, not the other way around Ask what evidence you have beyond the first appetite and social pressure..
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
Montaigne argues our true self exists independent of reputation—we are not our public image
Development
Deepens earlier exploration of authentic selfhood versus social masks
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself changing behavior when you know people are watching versus when you're alone.
Class
In This Chapter
Glory and recognition often depend on fortune and position rather than merit—the wrong people get celebrated
Development
Continues theme of how social position distorts true value
In Your Life:
You've probably seen less qualified people get promoted because they're better at self-promotion.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Society pressures us to seek external validation, especially around concepts of honor and duty
Development
Builds on earlier chapters about conformity pressure
In Your Life:
You might feel pressure to post about good deeds or achievements to prove your worth to others.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
True development requires internal motivation and conscience as the only reliable judge
Development
Evolves from external learning to internal wisdom cultivation
In Your Life:
Real growth happens in private moments when you choose the harder right thing with no witnesses.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Authentic connections require dropping the performance and being genuine, even when it's less impressive
Development
Introduced here as extension of authenticity themes
In Your Life:
Your closest relationships probably formed when you stopped trying to impress and started being real.
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 we are 'hollow and empty' and need 'solid substance' rather than 'wind and voice'?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
He argues that chasing glory is like seeking empty praise instead of real improvement. We need actual virtues like wisdom and health, not just reputation.
- 2
Why does Montaigne find it ironic that Epicurus, who preached contempt for glory, arranged for his birthday to be celebrated after death?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
It reveals how even philosophers who understand the emptiness of fame still crave recognition. We're 'double in ourselves' and can't escape what we condemn.
- 3
Where do you see people today choosing reputation over substance, like Montaigne's starving man preferring fancy clothes to food?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Social media influencers buying designer items while in debt, or students choosing prestigious colleges they can't afford over practical education that builds real skills.
- 4
How would you apply Montaigne's advice about conscience being your only judge when facing peer pressure to do something questionable?
application • deepOne way to read it
Ask yourself what you'd do if no one would ever know. If you wouldn't cheat on a test with no witnesses, then the approval you'd gain isn't worth compromising your integrity.
- 5
What does Montaigne's observation that fortune determines fame more than merit reveal about how we judge success?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
We often mistake luck for virtue and visibility for value. True worth exists independent of recognition, so we shouldn't judge ourselves or others by public acclaim alone.
Critical Thinking Exercise
The Recognition Audit
List three things you do regularly that others praise you for. For each one, honestly assess: Would you still do this if no one would ever know or acknowledge it? Write down what drives you in each case—internal satisfaction, external recognition, or a mix of both. This exercise helps you identify where the Recognition Trap might be operating in your own life.
Consider:
- •Be brutally honest—there's no shame in admitting you like recognition, the danger is when it becomes the only motivation
- •Look for patterns in when you feel most authentic versus when you feel like you're performing
- •Consider how your energy and satisfaction change when you focus on internal versus external rewards
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you did something good or right with no expectation of recognition. How did that feel different from times when you were hoping for praise? What does this tell you about your authentic motivations?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 73: The Mirror of Self-Knowledge
After glory's empty echo, Montaigne turns the mirror inward on presumption. He will list everything he cannot do, from poetry and memory to farming accounts, before praising La Boetie as the rare soul he actually admires.
