Heroes Not Zombies

This chapter confused me at first. What is this idea of doing a good job, but not too good? Shouldn’t we always try to do our absolute best? Aren’t we constantly encouraged to find not just a “personal best”, but to be “world beating”? It turns out this is another area of Montaigne’s life where he applies his principle of moderation. He was elected mayor of Bordeaux, not a position he desired, but he was given no choice. He had to follow the king’s orders. So he did his duty and did such a good job as mayor that he was elected for a second time, something pretty much unheard of in those times. But he often wrote that he did what was expected of him but no more. He didn’t see it as an opportunity to further some political ambition, or to be the best mayor of Bordeaux. He always held something back and was criticised for that.

As I reflected on this chapter I realised it reminded me of two things. Firstly, the poison of perfectionism. How much harm does that do? How many people beat themselves up every day because they believe they are not perfect? Yet there is no such thing as perfection. The Japanese concept of wabi sabi embraces the “imperfection” of human creation and of Nature, highlighting and celebrating the evidence of dynamic change, of incompleteness and of the traces of human hands.

Secondly it reminded me of the counselling advice to be “good enough”. To be compassionate and understanding and to know that everything is contingent. That every day we can engage and commit and live in ways which are absolutely “good enough”, and that we continue to learn, to grow and mature. It’s a counsel of self acceptance and of reality.

I come back to this many times. I’m not going to beat myself up for what I would now do differently, but I can continue to strive to develop, and grow, and, I hope, to live well.

Yet again Montaigne demonstrates a way of life where he commits to whatever is in the here and now, knowing that nothing remains the same forever, and applying certain limits to moderate his efforts and actions so that he doesn’t “over do” anything. That’s a pretty unusual path these days, and I’m sure a lot of readers would find it challenging but it certainly provokes some self reflection, don’t you think?