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self quite well, but also he was very successful in living according to
his nature.
His motto for his own inner peace was to live now and to
"vivre a propos." Considering books, he said that he read them only
for amusement or to learn how to die and how to live (A,II,x,409; cf.
A/C/A,I,xx,81). According to these passages, his preoccupation with
death left him rather early, and he concentrated on living well. By
the time of the 1588 edition he is clearly commited to living life:
(B) "Si vous avez faict vostre proufit de la vie, vous en estes repeu,
allez vous en satisfaict..." (I,xx,93). And in the additions he made
after 1588 he remains faithful to this position: (C) "Si nous avons
sgeu vivre constamment et tranquillement, nous sgaurons mourir de
mesme: (III,xii,1052). Montaigne considered the most illustrious
occupation of any—that of living a composed life—commensurate with
one's nature and position in life: (C) "Nostre grand et glorieux chef
d'oeuvre c'est vivre a propos" (III,xiii,1108). That is Montaigne's
idea of the only positively attainable peace.