On Friendship by Michel de Montaigne

In my advancing years, as I reflect on the life I have lived, I wonder about the people that have come into and out of my life. Many have been short-term friendships (weeks, months or a few years), and even the longer ones may be wanting in depth and continued engagement. Can I push the blame to others, or am I lacking the friendship commitment gene? I am going in search for answers from the French essayist, Michel de Montaigne, in his essay On Friendship [https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/865876.On_Friendship]. Why not come and consider our collective thoughts On Friendship together, and while I cannot guarantee that you'll have more friends at the end of it, it may give you a chance to ponder why?

Some points we may explore from the essay:

• What makes a friendship truly special and different from other relationships in your life?
• Why do you think Montaigne believes true friendship is so rare? Do you agree?
• Can friendships really be based purely on mutual respect and shared values?
• How important is it for friends to have similar characters and virtues? Are these present in your own friendships?
• What do you think about Montaigne’s close friendship with Étienne de La Boétie? Have you experienced a similar bond?
• How do you balance equality and reciprocity in your friendships without keeping score?
• Why is emotional honesty important in friendships, and how does it strengthen the bond?
• How do true friendships endure over time and through life's changes?
• How do friendships compare to other relationships like romantic or family ties in terms of depth and connection?

While it is fun to have participation, there are no expectations. If you want to come along and listen, you are more than welcome. Reading the essay would be great, as it provides some intellectual stimulation on the subject and a chance to put together some coherent thoughts on the subject before the event, but again, it is optional.

For any audiobook listeners, there is a mammoth audiobook collection of Montaigne's essays (UK - https://www.audible.co.uk/pd/The-Complete-Essays-of-Montaigne-Audiobook/B005NBQX5M), and in this it is actually chapter 39.

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This meetup will be based around a presentation of some of the concepts from the book. This will provide a basis for the discussion, but will not limit it. Come along and share your thoughts and opinions!

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