If someone asks us to explain what it means to have power, it is very likely that we will define it as having a lot of influence on others. This can be very useful, since it is still a way to extend our resources when enforcing our will. The fact that you have influence on others, for example, thanks to our popularity, can be more useful and more effective than money when it comes to conditioning the behavior of others.
Now… what is the price of being a reference figure for others? Already in the 16th century, the philosopher Michel de Montaigne reflected on the way in which fame and influence enslave us
Michel Eyquem de Montaigne was one of the most important philosophers and essayists of Renaissance Europe Born in 1533 into a rich family residing in a castle near Bordeaux, he was not able to enjoy the luxuries of his lineage during his early childhood, as his parents sent him to live with a family of poor peasants until he He passed the age of three, in principle so that he would know what a humble life is.
Later enjoyed a liberal education based on the habit of questioning everything, a trend that was gaining a lot of strength in Europe after centuries of religious dogmatism. Of course, until he was six years old he was only allowed to speak Latin, and French was his second language.
The efforts that Montaigne’s family made to make him a member of the intellectual elite paid off. In 1571 he joined parliament, where he worked for more than a decade until he felt free to enjoy the family inheritance.
In the year 1680, in addition to beginning to travel through Europe, published his first set of essays, which would be followed by two other volumes later. He lived without great economic worries and shortly before his death he again held political office, this time as mayor of Bordeaux.
Michel Montaigne’s theory of influence
There are many ways to influence others without having a large reserve of money; for example, being in a position where the decisions we make can objectively greatly benefit or harm others. Many politicians would fall into this category.
But, beyond this… Is there a price for having a lot of influence thanks to fame? Montaigne believed so and that this price is high. Let’s see how he argued it.
1. Tranquility is the preferred state
Montaigne believed that everything we do, in principle, we do to live without worries. The natural state of the human being is, therefore, not to be forced to face unnecessary moments of stress, and to accept the bad with simplicity and without drama.
2. Tranquility has to do with public image
By the simple fact of living in society, what we are going to experience It depends in part on how we interact with others Our neighbors and fellow citizens can greatly affect our lives.
3. We try to give a good image
To have the capacity to cushion the risk of our relationships with others going wrong, we try to have a good public image, something that can make others have a good disposition when dealing with us. But, at the same time, we can try not only to avoid risks, but also to use a very powerful public image to influence others and enjoy privileged treatment.
Montaigne believed that, although the purpose of having fame or a positive social image is to enjoy more pleasant living conditions that give us access to resources that we might not have access to without these elements, their presence means having many extra worries.
In order to carry out the maintenance of that tool that we use to influence others we dedicate time and effort to pretending, making public appearances and even creating bonds of supposed friendship in order to stay relevant.
5. Tranquility and fame are incompatible
The possibility of fame may seem very attractive in certain circumstances, but in any case it is something that guarantees us having to attend to extra worries. Somehow we speculate with our well-being, complicating our lives to maintain an artifact (the public image) that requires constant maintenance and that can be completely damaged in a matter of seconds, for example, if it is discovered that there is playback at a concert in which we are singing.
Michel de Montaigne’s philosophy, then, leads us to take life with simplicity.
