The Tragic Death of Michel De Montaigne The most fruitful and natural play of the mind is in conversation

Michele Montaigne was one of the most significant philosophers of the French Renaissance. I have long admired him and love quotations from his work, especially those relating to conversation.

I just learned on Wikipedia that he died of quinsy at the age of 59 in 1592 at the Château de Montaigne. The disease paralyzed his tongue – a tragic end to his life, given he once said:

In my opinion, the most fruitful and natural play of the mind is in conversation.

I find it sweeter than any other action in life; and if I were forced to choose, I think I would rather lose my sight than my hearing and voice.

Credit: Michel de Montaigne

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