A few hours later, still at La Boétie’s bedside, Montaigne told him that he ‘blushed for shame’ to see him showing more courage in the face of his own death than he, Montaigne, was able to find in witnessing it. He promised to remember his example when his own time came. Yes, said La Boétie, that was a good thing to do. He reminded Montaigne of the many enlightening talks they had already had on such subjects. This experience was, he said, ‘the true object of our studies, and of philosophy’.
