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The Essays of Montaigne； V19
by Michel de Montaigne
Translated by Charles Cotton
Edited by William Carew Hazilitt
1877
CONTENTS OF VOLUME 19。
XIII。 Of Experience。
CHAPTER XIII
OF EXPERIENCE
There is no desire more natural than that of knowledge。 We try all ways
that can lead us to it； where reason is wanting； we therein employ
experience；
〃Per varios usus artem experientia fecit；
Exemplo monstrante viam；〃
＇〃By various trials experience created art； example shewing the
way。〃Manilius； i。 59。＇
which is a means much more weak and cheap； but truth is so great a thing
that we ought not to disdain any mediation that will guide us to it。
Reason has so many forms that we know not to which to take； experience
has no fewer； the consequence we would draw from the comparison of events
is unsure； by reason they are always unlike。 There is no quality so
universal in this image of things as diversity and variety。 Both the
Greeks and the Latins and we； for the most express example of similitude；
employ that of eggs； and yet there have been men； particularly one at
Delphos； who could distinguish marks of difference amongst eggs so well
that he never mistook one for another； and having many hens； could tell
which had laid it。
Dissimilitude intrudes itself of itself in our works； no art can arrive
at perfect similitude： neither Perrozet nor any other can so carefully
polish and blanch the backs of his cards that some gamesters will not
distinguish them by seeing them only shuffled by another。 Resemblance
does not so much make one as difference makes another。 Nature has
obliged herself to make nothing other that was not unlike。
And yet I am not much pleased with his opinion； who thought by the
multitude of laws to curb the authority of judges in cutting out for them
their several parcels； he was not aware that there is as much liberty and
latitude in the interpretation of laws as in their form； and they but
fool themselves； who think to lessen and stop our disputes by recalling
us to the express words of the Bible： forasmuch as our mind does not find
the field less spacious wherein to controvert the sense of another than
to deliver his own； and as if there were less animosity and tartness in
commentary than in invention。 We see how much he was mistaken； for we
have more laws in France than all the rest of the world put together； and
more than would be necessary for the government of all the worlds of
Epicurus：
〃Ut olim flagitiis； sic nunc legibus； laboramus。〃
＇〃As we were formerly by crimes； so we are now overburdened by
laws。〃Tacitus； Annal。； iii。 25。＇
and yet we have left so much to the opinions and decisions of our judges
that there never was so full a liberty or so full a license。 What have
our legislators gained by culling out a hundred thousand particular
cases； and by applying to these a hundred thousand laws？ This number
holds no manner of proportion with the infinite diversity of human
actions； the multiplication of our inventions will never arrive at the
variety of examples； add to these a hundred times as many more； it will
still not happen that； of events to come； there shall one be found that；
in this vast number of millions of events so chosen and recorded； shall
so tally with any other one； and be so exactly coupled and matched with
it that there will not remain some circumstance and diversity which will
require a diverse judgment。 There is little relation betwixt our
actions； which are in perpetual mutation； and fixed and immutable laws；
the most to be desired are those that are the most rare； the most simple
and general； and I am even of opinion that we had better have none at all
than to have them in so prodigious a number as we have。
Nature always gives them better and happier than those we make ourselves；
witness the picture of the Golden Age of the Poets and the state wherein
we see nations live who have no other。 Some there are； who for their
only judge take the first passer…by that travels along their mountains；
to determine their cause； and others who； on their market day； choose out
some one amongst them upon the spot to decide their controversies。 What
danger would there be that the wisest amongst us should so determine
ours； according to occurrences and at sight； without obligation of
example and consequence？ For every foot its own shoe。 King Ferdinand；
sending colonies to the Indies； wisely provided that they should not
carry along with them any students of jurisprudence； for fear lest suits
should get footing in that new world； as being a science in its own
nature； breeder of altercation and division； judging with Plato； 〃that
lawyers and physicians are bad institutions of a country。〃
Whence does it come to pass that our common language； so easy for all
other uses； becomes obscure and unintelligible in wills and contracts？
and that he who so clearly expresses himself in whatever else he speaks
or writes； cannot find in these any way of declaring himself that does
not fall into doubt and contradiction？ if it be not that the princes of
that art； applying themselves with a peculiar attention to cull out
portentous words and to contrive artificial sentences； have so weighed
every syllable； and so thoroughly sifted every sort of quirking
connection that they are now confounded and entangled in the infinity of
figures and minute divisions； and can no more fall within any rule or
prescription； nor any certain intelligence：
〃Confusum est； quidquid usque in pulverem sectum est。〃
＇〃Whatever is beaten into powder is undistinguishable （confused）。〃
Seneca； Ep。； 89。＇
As you see children trying to bring a mass of quicksilver to a certain
number of parts； the more they press and work it and endeavour to reduce
it to their own will； the more they irritate the liberty of this generous
metal； it evades their endeavour and sprinkles itself into so many
separate bodies as frustrate all reckoning； so is it here； for in
subdividing these subtilties we teach men to increase their doubts； they
put us into a way of extending and diversifying difficulties； and
lengthen and disperse them。 In sowing and retailing questions they make
the world fructify and increase in uncertainties and disputes； as the
earth is made fertile by being crumbled and dug deep。
〃Difficultatem facit doctrina。〃
＇〃Learning （Doctrine） begets difficulty。〃
Quintilian； Insat。 Orat。； x。 3。＇
We doubted of Ulpian； and are still now more perplexed with Bartolus and
Baldus。 We should efface the trace of this innumerable diversity of
opinions； not adorn ourselves with it； and fill posterity with crotchets。
I know not what to say to it； but experience makes it manifest； that so
many interpretations dissipate truth and break it。 Aristotle wrote to be
understood； if he could not do this； much less will another that is not
so good at it； and a third than he； who expressed his own thoughts。 We
open the matter； and spill it in pouring out： of one subject we make a
thousand； and in multiplying and subdividing them； fall again into the
infinity of atoms of Epicurus。 Never did two men make the same judgment
of the same thing； and 'tis impossible to find two opinions exactly
alike； not only in several men； but in the same man； at diverse hours。
I often find matter of doubt in things of which the commentary has
disdained to take notice； I am most apt to stumble in an even country；
like some horses that I have known； that make most trips in the smoothest
way。
Who will not say that glosses augment doubts and ignorance； since there's
no book to be found； either human or divine； which the world busies
itself about； whereof the difficulties are cleared by interpretation。
The hundredth commentator passes it on to the next； still more knotty and
perplexed than he found it。 When were we ever agreed amongst ourselves：
〃This book has enough； there is now no more to be said about it〃？ This
is most apparent in the law； we give the authority of law to infinite
doctors； infinite decrees； and as many interpretations； yet do we find
any end of the need of interpretating？ is there； for all that； any
progress or advancement towards peace； or do we stand in need of any
fewer advocates and judges than when this great mass of law was yet in
its first infancy？ On the contrary； we darken and bury intelligence； we
can no longer discover it； but at the mercy of so many fences and
barriers。 Men do not know the natural disease of the mind； it does
nothing but ferret and inquire； and is eternally wheeling； juggling； and
perplexing itself like silkworms； and then suffocates itself in its work；
〃Mus in pice。〃 ＇〃 A mouse in a pitch barrel。〃＇ It thinks it discovers
at a great distance； I know not what glimpses of light and imaginary
truth： but whilst running to it； so many difficulties； hindrances； and
new inquisitions cross it； that it loses its way； and is made drunk with
the motion： not much unlike AEsop's dogs； that seeing something like a
dead body floating in the sea； a