Montaigne, between public and private service

Montaigne endeavored to guard himself against the servitude of public duties. He opens up a new pathway: the possibility of serving the public as a “displeased” man. To do this, he distinguishes two aspects of the private. The first relates to the network of links that underpin official relations, the second refers to the heart of hearts. Notably, Montaigne negotiated the preservation of his internal liberty in his relations with Matignon and in his role as mediator for Henry IV of France.