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The Essays of Montaigne； V4
by Michel de Montaigne
Translated by Charles Cotton
Edited by William Carew Hazilitt
1877
CONTENTS OF VOLUME 4。
XXII。 Of custom； and that we should not easily change a law received
XXIII。 Various events from the same counsel。
XXIV。 Of pedantry。
CHAPTER XXII
OF CUSTOM； AND THAT WE SHOULD NOT EASILY CHANGE A LAW RECEIVED
He seems to me to have had a right and true apprehension of the power of
custom； who first invented the story of a country…woman who； having
accustomed herself to play with and carry a young calf in her arms； and
daily continuing to do so as it grew up； obtained this by custom； that；
when grown to be a great ox； she was still able to bear it。 For； in
truth； custom is a violent and treacherous schoolmistress。 She； by
little and little； slily and unperceived； slips in the foot of her
authority； but having by this gentle and humble beginning； with the
benefit of time； fixed and established it； she then unmasks a furious and
tyrannic countenance； against which we have no more the courage or the
power so much as to lift up our eyes。 We see her； at every turn； forcing
and violating the rules of nature：
〃Usus efficacissimus rerum omnium magister。〃
＇〃Custom is the best master of all things。〃
Pliny； Nat。 Hist。；xxvi。 2。＇
I refer to her Plato's cave in his Republic； and the physicians； who so
often submit the reasons of their art to her authority； as the story of
that king； who by custom brought his stomach to that pass； as to live by
poison； and the maid that Albertus reports to have lived upon spiders。
In that new world of the Indies； there were found great nations； and in
very differing climates； who were of the same diet； made provision of
them； and fed them for their tables； as also； they did grasshoppers；
mice； lizards； and bats； and in a time of scarcity of such delicacies； a
toad was sold for six crowns； all which they cook； and dish up with
several sauces。 There were also others found； to whom our diet； and the
flesh we eat； were venomous and mortal：
〃Consuetudinis magna vis est： pernoctant venatores in nive：
in montibus uri se patiuntur： pugiles； caestibus contusi；
ne ingemiscunt quidem。〃
＇〃The power of custom is very great： huntsmen will lie out all
night in the snow； or suffer themselves to be burned up by the sun
on the mountains； boxers； hurt by the caestus； never utter a
groan。〃Cicero； Tusc。； ii。 17＇
These strange examples will not appear so strange if we consider what we
have ordinary experience of； how much custom stupefies our senses。 We
need not go to what is reported of the people about the cataracts of the
Nile； and what philosophers believe of the music of the spheres； that the
bodies of those circles being solid and smooth； and coming to touch and
rub upon one another； cannot fail of creating a marvellous harmony； the
changes and cadences of which cause the revolutions and dances of the
stars； but that the hearing sense of all creatures here below； being
universally； like that of the Egyptians； deafened； and stupefied with the
continual noise； cannot； how great soever； perceive it＇This passage is
taken from Cicero； 〃Dream of Scipio〃； see his De Republica； vi。 II。 The
Egyptians were said to be stunned by the noise of the Cataracts。＇
Smiths； millers； pewterers； forgemen； and armourers could never be able
to live in the perpetual noise of their own trades； did it strike their
ears with the same violence that it does ours。
My perfumed doublet gratifies my own scent at first； but after I have
worn it three days together； 'tis only pleasing to the bystanders。 This
is yet more strange； that custom； notwithstanding long intermissions and
intervals； should yet have the power to unite and establish the effect of
its impressions upon our senses； as is manifest in such as live near unto
steeples and the frequent noise of the bells。 I myself lie at home in a
tower； where every morning and evening a very great bell rings out the
Ave Maria： the noise shakes my very tower； and at first seemed
insupportable to me； but I am so used to it； that I hear it without any
manner of offence； and often without awaking at it。
Plato ＇Diogenes Laertius； iii。 38。 But he whom Plato censured was not
a boy playing at nuts； but a man throwing dice。＇ reprehending a boy for
playing at nuts； 〃Thou reprovest me；〃 says the boy； 〃for a very little
thing。〃 〃Custom；〃 replied Plato； 〃 is no little thing。〃 I find that our
greatest vices derive their first propensity from our most tender
infancy； and that our principal education depends upon the nurse。
Mothers are mightily pleased to see a child writhe off the neck of a
chicken； or to please itself with hurting a dog or a cat； and such wise
fathers there are in the world； who look upon it as a notable mark of a
martial spirit； when they hear a son miscall； or see him domineer over a
poor peasant； or a lackey； that dares not reply； nor turn again； and a
great sign of wit； when they see him cheat and overreach his playfellow
by some malicious treachery and deceit。 Yet these are the true seeds and
roots of cruelty； tyranny； and treason； they bud and put out there； and
afterwards shoot up vigorously； and grow to prodigious bulk； cultivated
by custom。 And it is a very dangerous mistake to excuse these vile
inclinations upon the tenderness of their age； and the triviality of the
subject： first； it is nature that speaks； whose declaration is then more
sincere； and inward thoughts more undisguised； as it is more weak and
young； secondly； the deformity of cozenage does not consist nor depend
upon the difference betwixt crowns and pins； but I rather hold it more
just to conclude thus： why should he not cozen in crowns since he does it
in pins； than as they do； who say they only play for pins； they would not
do it if it were for money？ Children should carefully be instructed to
abhor vices for their own contexture； and the natural deformity of those
vices ought so to be represented to them； that they may not only avoid
them in their actions； but especially so to abominate them in their
hearts； that the very thought should be hateful to them； with what mask
soever they may be disguised。
I know very well； for what concerns myself； that from having been brought
up in my childhood to a plain and straightforward way of dealing； and
from having had an aversion to all manner of juggling and foul play in my
childish sports and recreations （and； indeed； it is to be noted； that the
plays of children are not performed in play； but are to be judged in them
as their most serious actions）； there is no game so small wherein from my
own bosom naturally； and without study or endeavour； I have not an
extreme aversion from deceit。 I shuffle and cut and make as much clatter
with the cards； and keep as strict account for farthings； as it were for
double pistoles； when winning or losing against my wife and daughter；
'tis indifferent to me； as when I play in good earnest with others； for
round sums。 At all times； and in all places