Chapter 92
Three Greatest Men in History
OF THE MOST EXCELLENT MEN If I should be asked my choice among all the men who have come to my knowledge, I should make answer, that methinks I find three more excellent than all the rest. One of them Homer: not that Aristotle and Varro, for example, were not, peradventure, as learned as he; nor that possibly Virgil was not equal to him in his own art, which I leave to be determined by such as know them both. I who, for my part, understand but one of them, can only say this, according to my poor talent, that…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"If I should be asked my choice among all the men who have come to my knowledge, I should make answer, that methinks I find three more excellent than all the rest."
Context: Ranking opens
Question posed.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says if he should be asked his choice among all the men who have come to his knowledge, he would name three. Rankings reveal values. Notice whom you would name if forced to choose; the list tells you what you truly honor beyond fashion.
"only words that have motion and action, the only substantial words."
Context: Homer's words
Living language.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says Homer's words, according to Aristotle, are the only words that have motion and action, the only substantial words. Language can perform. When a writer's sentences seem to move like bodies in space, you are seeing craft that acts on the reader, not only describes.
"victory like a shadow attending him wherever he went"
Context: Fortune's trace
Second half.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says victory followed Alexander like a shadow attending him wherever he went, and the country's prosperity died with him. Luck leaves echoes. When success feels larger than the person behind it, expect the whole aftermath to shrink once the shadow finally passes from view.
"prosperity of his country, as being from him derived, died with him."
Context: Close
Fortune's limit.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says the prosperity of Alexander's country, being from him derived, died with him when he fell. Personal fortune is not institution. If an entire era ends when one man falls alone, the greatness was probably borrowed fortune, not durable institutions built to outlast him.
Thematic Threads
Recognition
In This Chapter
Montaigne shows how true excellence often goes unrecognized while flashy achievement gets celebrated
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might be undervaluing your own steady contributions while envying others' dramatic successes.
Character
In This Chapter
Epaminondas represents the ideal of combining achievement with uncompromised moral character
Development
Builds on Montaigne's ongoing exploration of virtue versus worldly success
In Your Life:
You face daily choices between doing what's expedient and doing what's right.
Identity
In This Chapter
Each of the three men represents a different way of defining and expressing human excellence
Development
Continues Montaigne's theme of multiple valid ways to live
In Your Life:
You might be trying to be someone else's version of successful instead of defining greatness for yourself.
Class
In This Chapter
Homer achieved greatness despite poverty and disability, showing excellence transcends social position
Development
Reinforces that worth isn't determined by circumstances of birth
In Your Life:
Your background doesn't limit what kind of excellence you can achieve.
Legacy
In This Chapter
Different types of greatness create different kinds of lasting impact on the world
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might wonder what kind of mark you want to leave and how to build something that lasts.
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 rank Homer first despite admitting he can't read Greek and that Virgil might equal Homer's poetic skill?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
Montaigne values Homer's foundational influence over technical mastery. Homer created the source from which all later poets drew, making him irreplaceable despite potential equals in craft.
- 2
How does Montaigne's claim that Alexander's 'virtues came from Nature, his vices from Fortune' resolve the tension between greatness and moral failing?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
This distinction lets Montaigne admire Alexander's natural gifts while excusing his cruelties as corruption from external success, preserving the core person's worth.
- 3
Where do you see Montaigne's three types of greatness (creative influence, conquering achievement, moral excellence) playing out in today's heroes?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Steve Jobs mirrors Homer's creative influence, military leaders echo Alexander's conquest, while figures like Mandela embody Epaminondas's moral leadership without compromising character.
- 4
If you had to choose between Alexander's spectacular success with moral compromise or Epaminondas's virtue with obscurity, which would you pick?
application • deepOne way to read it
Montaigne clearly favors Epaminondas, suggesting that sustainable character matters more than fame. The choice reveals whether we prioritize external recognition or internal integrity.
- 5
What does Montaigne's ranking reveal about how we should weigh talent, achievement, and character when judging human excellence?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Montaigne suggests character ultimately trumps talent and achievement. While he admires Homer's genius and Alexander's conquests, he reserves highest praise for Epaminondas's integrated excellence.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Models of Excellence
Make three columns labeled 'Creative Genius,' 'Spectacular Achiever,' and 'Quiet Master.' Under each, list 2-3 people you know personally or admire from afar who fit that model. Then write one sentence about which path appeals to you most right now and why.
Consider:
- •Look beyond celebrities—include people from your own life like teachers, coworkers, or family members
- •Consider both the costs and benefits of each type of excellence
- •Think about which model would make you proudest of yourself in 20 years
Journaling Prompt
Write about someone you know who achieves excellence without seeking attention. What can you learn from how they approach their work and relationships?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 93: On Heredity and Medical Skepticism
After ranking the greatest men, Montaigne turns to inheritance in the flesh. He will trace how a drop of seed may carry a father's malady and why physicians, not nature, became his chief adversaries.
