Chapter 09
Why Bad Memory Makes Good People
OF LIARS There is not a man living whom it would so little become to speak from memory as myself, for I have scarcely any at all, and do not think that the world has another so marvellously treacherous as mine. My other faculties are all sufficiently ordinary and mean; but in this I think myself very rare and singular, and deserving to be thought famous. Besides the natural inconvenience I suffer by it (for, certes, the necessary use of memory considered, Plato had reason when he called it a great and powerful goddess), in my country, when they would…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"There is not a man living whom it would so little become to speak from memory as myself, for I have scarcely any at all, and do not think that the world has another so marvellously treacherous as mine."
Context: Opening confession
He leads with weakness that frames the essay.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says no man should speak from memory less than he does, because he has almost none. He owns the flaw upfront instead of hiding it. When you admit a limitation early, people stop reading every mistake as malice and start reading it as capacity.
"he who has not a good memory should never take upon him the trade of lying."
Context: Link between memory and sustained deception
Lying is a memory-intensive craft.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne warns that anyone without a good memory should never take up lying as a trade. Fabrication requires tracking versions by audience and date. If you struggle to remember what you said last week, that may protect your honesty more than any formal moral lecture ever could.
"lying is an accursed vice."
Context: Moral verdict on false speech
He condemns lying absolutely.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne calls lying an accursed vice in plain terms. He is not relativizing small falsehoods; he treats deliberate deceit as corrosion of human society. When you feel tempted to shave the truth for comfort, remember the bond you are cutting is social trust, not just a single fact.
"the reverse of truth has a hundred thousand forms, and a field indefinite, without bound or limit."
Context: Why lies multiply and unravel
Falsehood branches; truth stays singular.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says the reverse of truth takes a hundred thousand forms without limit, while truth stays singular. That is why liars contradict themselves and honest people sometimes sound boringly consistent. Watch for multiplying details across retellings and audiences; they often signal invention and performance, not precision.
Thematic Threads
Identity
In This Chapter
Montaigne reframes his bad memory from shameful weakness to protective strength
Development
Continues his theme of accepting rather than hiding personal quirks
In Your Life:
You might discover your 'flaws' actually protect you from behaviors you'd regret
Deception
In This Chapter
Lying requires excellent memory to track multiple versions of truth
Development
Introduced here - explores the mechanics of dishonesty
In Your Life:
You can spot liars by watching for contradictions in their stories over time
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Society values good memory, but Montaigne shows its dark potential
Development
Builds on earlier themes about questioning conventional virtues
In Your Life:
You might resist 'improving' traits that actually serve you well as they are
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Our word is the only bond between people - lying destroys trust
Development
Introduced here - the foundation of all human connection
In Your Life:
You realize why broken promises damage relationships more than other failures
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Growth isn't always about fixing flaws - sometimes it's understanding their purpose
Development
Evolves from self-acceptance to strategic self-knowledge
In Your Life:
You might stop trying to fix every perceived weakness and start leveraging some of them
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 three benefits does Montaigne claim his terrible memory gives him?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
He says bad memory keeps him from being too talkative, helps him forget grudges and injuries, and prevents political ambition since he can't remember details needed for public affairs.
- 2
Why does Montaigne think liars need excellent memory, based on his diplomatic examples?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
Liars must track multiple story versions and remember which they told to whom. The ambassadors he describes got caught because they couldn't maintain consistency when pressed with follow-up questions.
- 3
Where do you see people today getting caught in lies because they forgot what they said before?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Social media makes this common since posts create permanent records. Politicians often contradict earlier statements, and even friends get caught changing details in repeated stories.
- 4
How might you use Montaigne's insight about memory and honesty when hiring someone or choosing friends?
application • deepOne way to read it
Pay attention to consistency over time rather than impressive first impressions. Someone who admits memory gaps might be more trustworthy than someone who always has perfect, detailed answers.
- 5
What does Montaigne's view that our flaws can protect us from worse vices suggest about human character?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Perhaps our weaknesses serve hidden purposes, creating natural limits that prevent greater harm. What we see as defects might actually be part of a balanced character that keeps us honest.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Protective Weaknesses
List three things about yourself that you consider weaknesses or limitations. For each one, spend 2-3 minutes identifying what negative behavior or vice this 'weakness' might actually be protecting you from. Consider how your inability to do certain things well might be keeping you out of trouble or preserving your integrity.
Consider:
- •Your social awkwardness might protect you from manipulative networking
- •Your inability to 'play the game' might preserve your authenticity
- •Your emotional sensitivity might prevent you from becoming callous or cruel
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you felt pressure to overcome a perceived weakness. What would you have gained, but more importantly, what might you have lost? How has this 'flaw' actually served you over time?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 10: Quick or Slow Speech
Montaigne turns from memory and truth to pace of speech. He compares quick and slow tongues, tells how a famous lawyer froze before the Pope, and asks which rooms reward preparation versus the present wit that answers surprises.
