Essays of Michel de Montaigne — Volume 15

An extended personal reflection argues that serious moral study and meditation are valuable but require moderation, since age and temperament can produce excessive severity. The writer describes how seasons of life alternate between cheerfulness and gravity, and endorses occasional indulgence to prevent stiffness. He then turns to sexual morals, questioning rigid prescriptions for chastity and contends that policing desire is often hypocritical, impractical, and liable to produce worse outcomes. Cultural and anecdotal examples illustrate how customs and necessity reshape sexual conduct. The essay cautions that jealous curiosity and invasive scrutiny tend to inflame wrongdoing rather than cure it.