Chapter 86
What Makes Us Different Makes Us Human
OF A MONSTROUS CHILD This story shall go by itself; for I will leave it to physicians to discourse of. Two days ago I saw a child that two men and a nurse, who said they were the father, the uncle, and the aunt of it, carried about to get money by showing it, by reason it was so strange a creature. It was, as to all the rest, of a common form, and could stand upon its feet; could go and gabble much like other children of the same age; it had never as yet taken any other nourishment…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"leave it to physicians to discourse of."
Context: Opening frame
Clinical humility.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says this story shall go by itself and he will leave it to physicians to discourse of the conjoined child he saw. Wonder is not diagnosis. You can observe a strange case honestly without turning it into a sermon or a sideshow theory before facts are clear.
"get money by showing it, by reason it was so strange a creature."
Context: Street display
Human commerce.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne saw a child carried about to get money by showing it because it was so strange a creature. Difference becomes spectacle. Notice when a person's anomaly is being rented for profit and whether your gaze is part of that economy Notice what repeats before you respond..
"monsters are not so to God, who sees in the immensity of His work the infinite forms that He has comprehended therein"
Context: Divine scale
Second half.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says those that we call monsters are not so to God, who sees infinite forms He has comprehended in His work. Scale changes judgment. Your shock may measure the narrowness of your experience, not the wrongness of the life in front of you Notice what repeats before you respond..
"contrary to custom we say is contrary to nature, but nothing, whatever it be, is contrary to her. Let, therefore, this universal and natural reason expel the error and astonishment"
Context: Close
Custom vs nature.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says whatever falls out contrary to custom we call contrary to nature, but nothing is contrary to her. Custom masquerades as law. Let universal reason expel the error and astonishment that novelty brings before you name something unnatural Notice what repeats before you respond..
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
Montaigne questions what makes someone 'normal' versus 'monstrous,' realizing identity categories are often arbitrary
Development
Evolved from earlier self-examination to examining how we categorize others
In Your Life:
You might realize how quickly you judge people who look, act, or live differently from you
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Society expects certain physical and behavioral norms, creating 'monsters' out of natural variations
Development
Builds on previous discussions of social conformity pressure
In Your Life:
You might notice how social pressure makes you hide or judge your own 'different' qualities
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
The way people treat the conjoined twin reveals how difference affects human connection and empathy
Development
Extends relationship themes to include how we relate to those we perceive as 'other'
In Your Life:
You might examine how you connect with people who seem very different from you
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Montaigne grows by questioning his own assumptions about normalcy and expanding his perspective
Development
Continues the theme of growth through self-questioning and observation
In Your Life:
You might find growth by challenging your automatic judgments about what's 'normal'
Class
In This Chapter
The conjoined twin is displayed for money, showing how society exploits those it deems different
Development
Introduced here as examination of how difference intersects with economic vulnerability
In Your Life:
You might notice how economic desperation can force people to accept dehumanizing treatment
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 the conjoined child 'was, as to all the rest, of a common form' and could walk and babble normally?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
He's pointing out that except for the extra body, this child functions exactly like any other 14-month-old. The 'monstrous' part doesn't affect the child's essential humanity or abilities.
- 2
Why does Montaigne contrast human shock at the conjoined twins with God's perspective on infinite forms in creation?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
Our limited experience makes us think rare variations are unnatural, but from a divine viewpoint that sees all possibilities, every form has its place in the grand design.
- 3
Where do you see people today calling something 'monstrous' simply because it's unfamiliar, like Montaigne's examples?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Social media often labels new technologies, cultural practices, or lifestyle choices as 'unnatural' when they're just different from current norms, like remote work or plant-based diets.
- 4
How would you apply Montaigne's insight about the shepherd without genitals living a full life when encountering someone with a visible disability?
application • deepOne way to read it
Focus on the person's actual capabilities and character rather than what appears 'missing.' Like the shepherd who works and seeks relationships, people adapt and thrive in ways we might not expect.
- 5
What does Montaigne's observation that 'nothing is contrary to nature' reveal about how we form judgments about normalcy?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
We mistake our limited experience for universal truth. What we call 'normal' is often just what we're used to seeing, not what's actually natural or possible in the world.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Track Your Judgment Triggers
For the next few days, notice when you catch yourself thinking 'that's weird' or 'that's not normal' about someone or something. Write down three specific instances. For each one, identify what made it feel strange to you and consider what you might learn if you approached it with curiosity instead of judgment.
Consider:
- •Pay attention to your physical reaction - does your body tense up when you encounter something unfamiliar?
- •Notice if your judgments are based on actual problems or just differences from your experience
- •Consider how your background and experiences shape what feels 'normal' to you
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone judged you for being different or unfamiliar. How did it feel? What would you have wanted them to understand about your situation or choices?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 87: The Danger of Angry Discipline
After bodily wonder, Montaigne turns to anger's domestic violence. Plutarch will condemn fathers' unchecked power over children, and Montaigne will admit how hard it is to stop once you are already on the precipice.
