I read Montaigne’s essay yesterday about “Liars” and it made me laugh out loud. I really enjoy Montaigne’s humility. It seems to me that he frequently wrote with a twinkle in his eye. In this essay he refers to his claim that he as a terrible memory. He says that others consider that an affliction of sorts, but he thinks it has advantages.
Firstly, he says that having a poor memory has saved him from being an ambitious person – “the defect being intolerable in those who take upon them public affairs”.
Secondly, he says it has saved him from deafening all his friends with his “babble”
I have observed in several of my intimate friends, who as their memories supply them with an entire and full view of things, begin their narrative so far back, and crowd it with so many impertinent circumstances, that though the story be good in itself, they make a shift to spoil it…for whilst they are seeking out a handsome period to conclude with, they go on at random, struggling about upon impertinent trivialities, as men staggering on weak legs.
…..old men who retain the memory of things past, and forget how often they have told them, are dangerous company; and I have known stories from the mouth of a man of very great quality, otherwise very pleasant in themselves, become very wearisome by being repeated a hundred times over and over again to the same people.
Thirdly, he says he is less likely to remember the injuries he has received (and therefore doesn’t hold grudges)
Fourthly….
the places which I revisit, and the books I read over again, still smile upon me with fresh novelty.
And, finally, (getting to the title of the essay) he says that it has saved him from being a liar, because liars always forget the details of their lies and trip themselves up. Knowing he has a bad memory means he doesn’t trust himself to lie!
Heroes Not Zombies 
Reblogged this on jamesharl – study and write and commented:
I think this blog post is one of the positive thoughts that an individual should read. Hence, people always think that having a poor memory is not a good thing to have. So, I salute to the person who posted this one and Montaigne for sharing his positive thoughts on something that being labeled by many as “disability”.
Mark Twain, the American wit, reputedly said “if you tell the truth, you don’t have to remember anything.” I’ve always lived by that.
[…] opinions, experiences and views were interesting to discover. This approach made him humble and this comes through everything he wrote and […]
I have a bad memory and recently I’ve also been contemplating upon its good side.The thing about holding no grudges is same with me.I wonder how some prople around me are able to describe the minute details of certain past happenings.
I know what you mean. I think the memories which remain most accessible to us are those which were created with the strongest emotions. But then, look at Proust! How did he remember all that detail?!