Phil 115: Entry 6
According to Montaigne, true intimacy is a rare thing to experience, he himself only having one true life companion he could share his world with. He was so taken aback by the passing of his dearest friend that it inspired him to write out his intimacies instead, alone (wife and kids aside).

While literature and philosophy have much to thank for Montaigne's thoughts put to paper, was he right? Is this higher level of friendship something very few ever get to take part in? One may wonder if this is a product of the times in which Montaigne lived, or if there truly is something ot be said for how rare an intimate relationship is. The present seems to be a spin-off of Montaigne's; the time we live in is full of conflict and uncertainty, much like his. Religious wars still wage on, centuries after Montaigne secluded himself in his estate. If times are really not so different from one another, why does it feel like Montaigne is.. overreacting?

If anything it is a given that true love and friendship is a precious thing to come by and to have with someone else. It may not be as common as the everyday relationship, but by sparking up the right topic or putting oneself open to discussion, it seems like we can find a true friend in more places than we think. Life is not necessarily a one-man's roller-coaster. Family can go along for a ride next to you. Friends can, lovers can, and perhaps the main reason why Montaigne held friendship so dear, is because he never stopped to see that he had somebody there all along, his wife and his family. Times may not be so similar afterall. We are not as self-restrained as before, and that is something to be thankful for.