Filosofy Need Help

[Mihai]

I'm not that good at filosofy and i have to coment on a text to get a 10.I really need the grade.If anyone here is an expert with words and could help me out i will be very greatfull.
The short phrase:

Human greatness does not exercise in greatness, but in mediocrity.-M. de Montaigne

Time limit is until tomorow morning.That is 12 hours until now.Thanks!

[slikrapid]

well, basically he's saying that we won't find much of one's 'greatness' in the acts one displays or performs publicly, as they are sort of an illusion, driven by the expectations that come from the position one occupies, so its more of a false picture of a person (a mask, a role-to-play if you like, come to think about it i guess you could compare it to a virtual internet personality too), that becomes glorified without a basis in reality (the Tamerlane or Erasmus example), but as pointed out, represents a false, exaggerated or distorted image of the person - whereas, the reality, or true greatness, lies/resides far from these publicly displayed properties - in the ordinary, private, even mediocre life a person leads - the true, real, somewhat hidden life, free of outer judgment or the need to adjust itself in compliance with some externalized expectations, where one acts according to one's own (unhindered) internal rules of the soul, ie. exercises the soul greatness

good luck :biggrin:


the original (part of the) chapter with the quote:

ESSAYS
by Michel de Montaigne
XIV. OF REPENTANCE.


The virtue of the soul does not consist in flying high, but in
walking orderly; its grandeur does not exercise itself in grandeur,
but in mediocrity. As they who judge and try us within, make no
great account of the luster of our public actions, and see they are
only streaks and rays of clear water springing from a slimy and
muddy bottom: so, likewise, they who judge of us by this gallant
outward appearance, in like manner conclude of our internal
constitution; and cannot couple common faculties, and like their
own, with the other faculties that astonish them, and are so far out
of their sight. Therefore it is, that we give such savage forms to
demons: and who does not give Tamerlane great eyebrows, wide nostrils,
a dreadful visage, and a prodigious stature, according to the
imagination he has conceived by the report of his name? Had any one
formerly brought me to Erasmus, I should hardly have believed but that
all was adage and apothegm he spoke to his man or his hostess. We much
more aptly imagine an artisan upon his close-stool, or upon his
wife, than a great president venerable by his port and sufficiency: we
fancy that they, from their high tribunals, will not abase
themselves so much as to live. As vicious souls are often incited by
some foreign impulse to do well, so are virtuous souls to do ill; they
are therefore to be judged by their settled state, when they are at
home, whenever that may be; and, at all events, when they are nearer
repose, and in their native station.


http://philosophy.eserver.org/montaigne-essays.txt

a review of the essay (with usa biased worldview)


http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/19563/montaigne_and_the_value_of_repentance_pg7.html?cat =9

[Mihai]

It's great.You are a real Philosopher.Thank you very, very much!

---------- Post added at 06:53 ---------- Previous post was at 06:51 ----------

And a real, real help.If you ever need something and i can help you out please ask me!