Book I, Chapter XXVI
Michel de Montaigne
Montaigne, writing in the late 16th century, positions himself against the prevailing intellectual arrogance of his time. Renaissance Europe was steeped in the rediscovery of classical knowledge, and many believed their capacity for reason was near infallible. Montaigne counters this with humility, suggesting that stubbornness in one's beliefs is a trap for the foolish. His skepticism is a call to openness, reminding us that wisdom often lies in acknowledging the limits of our understanding and embracing the unknown.