In a time where social media is lifting global narcissism to all new heights, there has to be a point where we cut the crap and just worry about ourselves - Michel de Montaigne was well aware of this 450 years ago, and that's why he's today's philosopher.
Montaigne came from a wealthy home in Bordeaux, France - but for all his grooming and class, he was an introvert at heart. He wrote several well-recognized works, but perhaps his most well renowned was an essay entitled 'On Solitude'. In this essay Montaigne pondered deeply on societies obsession with fame and glory - something that has only become more apparent today!
The conclusion that he came to was that the quest for fame was a flawed one, and that true peace could much easier be found in the detachment of oneself from the thoughts and opinions of others. See, Montaigne recognized that those who strove to be famous were often plagued with concerns that were in no way necessary to the happiness of man -whether others care for you or not, should hold no weight on your peace of mind.
So should we not consider others then? Of course we should! Montaigne did not oppose the consideration of others, but rather the emotional attachment we hold to their opinions - how consumed we can become by that.
Michel de Montaigne was a special type of person - one the world lacks in nowadays - We live in time where youngsters will go so far as to whore themselves off just for a shot of Instagram hype and Snapchat buzz, but when all the followers have left their likes and comments, and our faces are shared on every screen in every country - will we be at peace? I think not.
The more desperate we become for outward appreciation, the more telling it is of our own self-worth - or lack-there-of. What Montaigne touched on was the kind of peace that is cultivated from within, and it's this peace which should matter most to us, before any glory we may find outside ourselves.
Thank you for reading, and I hope you enjoyed, although if you didn't I don't care as much as I did before (just Montaigne things) - Please feel free to like, comment, and start a discussion - what are your thoughts on fame and peace?
Till next time... Stay woke!