Book I, Chapter XIX: That to Philosophize is to Learn to Die
Michel de Montaigne
Montaigne's reflection emerges from a period marked by religious wars and existential uncertainty. He suggests that the art of living is entwined with the acceptance of mortality. Facing death with equanimity sharpens the experience of life, stripping away fear and pretension. This stands in contrast to the era's common view, where death was often shrouded in dread and avoidance. Montaigne's tower retreat allowed him to observe, not just to escape.