--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: In another of his most famous essays…" description: "\"“In another of his most famous essays, Montaigne argued that to philosophise is to learn to die. I learned how to die with fatherhood. From the day Tit..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/anonymous-1_cease-to-exist_in-another-of-his-most-famous-essays-mon_1242268.jpg" --- # In another of his most famous essays, Montaigne argued… ![“In another of his most famous essays, Montaigne argued that to philosophise is to learn to die. I learned how to die with fatherhood. From the day Tito was born, I was completely cancelled out by him. I lost my will. I ceased to exist. Only a dead person can cease to exist. If philosophising is…” quote by Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/anonymous-1_cease-to-exist_in-another-of-his-most-famous-essays-mon_1242268.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/anonymous-1_cease-to-exist_in-another-of-his-most-famous-essays-mon_1242268.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/688/anonymous-1_cease-to-exist_in-another-of-his-most-famous-essays-mon_1242268.jpg) > ““In another of his most famous essays, Montaigne argued that to philosophise is to learn to die. I learned how to die with fatherhood. From the day Tito was born, I was completely cancelled out by him. I lost my will. I ceased to exist. Only a dead person can cease to exist. If philosophising is learning to die, then fatherhood is the philosophy of the ordinary man, the philosophy of the poor in spirit, the philosophy of the masses.”” [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote equates philosophical acceptance of mortality with the self‑effacing experience of fatherhood, suggesting that true wisdom comes from surrendering personal will to a larger purpose. **In simple terms:** Fatherhood teaches acceptance of self‑loss as a form of wisdom. Key Takeaway Embrace self‑sacrifice to grow. Themes fatherhood philosophy humility mortality identity Mood reflective melancholic thoughtful Type personal philosophical reflective When to use this quote - parenting - caregiving - personal transformation - spiritual practice Key Concepts existentialism self‑transcendence social role Questions to Reflect On - How does surrendering personal desire affect your sense of self? - Can wisdom be found outside of parental roles? A Different Perspective The analogy may over‑generalize fatherhood and ignore diverse experiences of parenthood. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Cease to exist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/cease-to-exist/) [Fatherhood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/fatherhood/) [Ordinary man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ordinary-man/) [Philosophy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/philosophy/) [Poor in spirit](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/poor-in-spirit/) ## Related quotes > [“To philosophise is to learn how to die.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/michael-de-montaigne/to-philosophise-is-to-learn-how-to-die/) Michael de Montaigne > [The best and safest way of philosophising seems to be, first to enquire diligently into the properties of things, and to establish those properties…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/isaac-newton/the-best-and-safest-way-of-philosophising-seems-to-be-first-to/) [Isaac Newton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/isaac-newton/) > [Making fun of philosophy is really philosophising.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/blaise-pascal/making-fun-of-philosophy-is-really-philosophising/) [Blaise Pascal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/blaise-pascal/) > [The supreme maxim in scientific philosophising is this: wherever possible, logical constructions are to be substituted for inferred entities.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/the-supreme-maxim-in-scientific-philosophising-is-this-wherever/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [Science is wonderful at destroying metaphysical answers, but incapable of providing substitute ones. Science takes away foundations without providing a replacement. Whether we want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hilary-putnam/science-is-wonderful-at-destroying-metaphysical-answers-but-incapable/) [Hilary Putnam](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hilary-putnam/) > [Until philosophers rule as kings or those who are now called kings and leading men genuinely and adequately philosophise, that is, until political power…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/plato/until-philosophers-rule-as-kings-or-those-who-are-now-called-kings/) [Plato](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/plato/) > [Most of those who have been bitten by the philosophy bug shall know, philosophers philosophise mainly because they cannot help it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/senoraroy/most-of-those-who-have-been-bitten-by-the-philosophy-bug-shall-know/) Senoraroy > [“Death is the true inspiring genius, or the muse of philosophy, wherefore Socrates has defined the latter as θανάτου μελέτη. 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Philosophy replies by doing a necessary thing: it elevates man to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/victor-hugo/religions-do-a-useful-thing-they-narrow-god-to-the-limits-of-man/) [Victor Hugo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/victor-hugo/) > [My old man had a philosophy: peace means having a bigger stick than the other guy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-downey-jr/my-old-man-had-a-philosophy-peace-means-having-a-bigger-stick-than/) [Robert Downey, Jr](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-downey-jr/) ## More by Anonymous > [And a tear rolled down her cheek, as she said goodbye; because she's walking away, and she's never looking back](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/and-a-tear-rolled-down-her-cheek-as-she-said-goodbye-because-she-s/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Life is full of change. That's how we learn and grow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/life-is-full-of-change-that-s-how-we-learn-and-grow/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [You'll seldom experience regret for anything that you've done. It is what you haven't done that will torment you. The message, therefore, is clear.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/you-ll-seldom-experience-regret-for-anything-that-you-ve-done-it-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Scrabble - The game is available in Braille. That’s a nice fact. This makes me feel better about humanity for some reason. I can’t…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/scrabble-the-game-is-available-in-braille-that-s-a-nice-fact-this/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Everyone needs someone to love, and I choose you.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/everyone-needs-someone-to-love-and-i-choose-you/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“THIS tale of my sore-troubled life I write,    To thank the God of nature, who conveyed    My soul to me, and with such care…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/this-tale-of-my-sore-troubled-life-i-write-to-thank-the-god-of-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Put on my J's and dance the whole night away Im naughty by nature like Im hip-hop hooray With my hands in the sky,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/put-on-my-j-s-and-dance-the-whole-night-away-im-naughty-by-nature/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Me.. I have been through a lot, but I still manage to have a smile on my face. Im not worried about the past…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/me-i-have-been-through-a-lot-but-i-still-manage-to-have-a-smile-on-my/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Distance is a test of love. many will fail for those who can't withstand it, but for those who can, theres only one answer…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/distance-is-a-test-of-love-many-will-fail-for-those-who-can-t/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Im sorry I ever tried...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/im-sorry-i-ever-tried/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Being betrayed by the one you love is the worst feeling in the world...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/being-betrayed-by-the-one-you-love-is-the-worst-feeling-in-the-world/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Let children support their parents or be imprisoned.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/let-children-support-their-parents-or-be-imprisoned/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The only person I've ever purposely caused pain here is myself...By simply sharing, caring too much.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-only-person-i-ve-ever-purposely-caused-pain-here-is-myself-by/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Start a business, not a startup”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/start-a-business-not-a-startup/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [The truth is, of course, that the curtness of the Ten Commandments is an evidence, not of the gloom and narrowness of a religion,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-truth-is-of-course-that-the-curtness-of-the-ten-commandments-is/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) [Explore all 162,899 Anonymous quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) ## More Cease to exist quotes > [“In the end, we are left with this painful conundrum: we only need DEI initiatives because we don’t truly have a society that values…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/louis-yako/in-the-end-we-are-left-with-this-painful-conundrum-we-only-need-dei/) [Louis Yako](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/louis-yako/) > [There has always been war. War is raging throughout the world at the present moment. And there is little reason to believe that war…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-nachtwey/there-has-always-been-war-war-is-raging-throughout-the-world-at-the/) [James Nachtwey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-nachtwey/) > [“The eyes are one of the most powerful tools a woman can have. With one look, she can relay the most intimate message. After…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jennifer-salaiz/the-eyes-are-one-of-the-most-powerful-tools-a-woman-can-have-with-one/) [Jennifer Salaiz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jennifer-salaiz/) > [The Democracy will cease to exist when you take away from those who are willing to work and give to those who would not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/the-democracy-will-cease-to-exist-when-you-take-away-from-those-who/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“Let me say only that these vehicles float a few inches off the ground. No animals draw them. No steam or chemical fuels them.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/n-k-jemisin/let-me-say-only-that-these-vehicles-float-a-few-inches-off-the-ground/) [N.K. Jemisin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/n-k-jemisin/) > [“could change the past and … cease to exist.” “But that’s the nature of risk, isn’t it? You gamble everything on the slenderest of hopes.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-kate/could-change-the-past-and-cease-to-exist-but-that-s-the-nature-of/) [Lauren Kate](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-kate/) > [Honesty is the cornerstone of all success, without which confidence and ability to perform shall cease to exist.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mary-kay-ash/honesty-is-the-cornerstone-of-all-success-without-which-confidence/) [Mary Kay Ash](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mary-kay-ash/) > [ “Tags \[distinctive agent features observable by other agents\] almost always define the network by delimiting the critical interactions, the major connections. Tags acquire this… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-h-holland/tags-distinctive-agent-features-observable-by-other-agents-almost/) John H. Holland > [If we one day cease to exist, what will be remarkable is that we were ever here at all.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nick-harkaway/if-we-one-day-cease-to-exist-what-will-be-remarkable-is-that-we-were/) [Nick Harkaway](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nick-harkaway/) > [“...Juliana. Should you cease to exist, so would I.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kathleen-collins/juliana-should-you-cease-to-exist-so-would-i/) [Kathleen Collins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kathleen-collins/) > [Religion, ideology, resources, land, spite, love or just because¦ No matter how pathetic the reason, its enough to start war. War will never cease…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/religion-ideology-resources-land-spite-love-or-just-because-no-matter/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“The Charcoal Sky Sometimes you go to the wrong place, but the right way comes and finds you. 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