''Tis with good reason that men decry the hypocrisy that is in war; for what is more easy to an old soldier than to shift in time of danger, and to counterfeit bravely, when he has no more heart than a chicken. There are so many ways to avoid hazarding a man's own person'--'and had we the use of the Platonic ring, which renders those invisible that wear it, if turned inwards towards the palm of the hand, it is to be feared that a great many would often hide themselves, when they _ought to appear_.' 'It seems that to be known, _is in some sort to a man's life and its duration in another's keeping_. I for my part, hold that I am wholly in myself, and that other life of mine which lies in the knowledge of my friends, considering it nakedly and simply in itself, I know very well that I am sensible of no fruit or enjoyment of it but by the vanity of a fantastic opinion; and, when I shall be dead, I shall be much less sensible of it, and shall withal absolutely lose the use of those real advantages that sometimes accidentally follow it. [That was Lord Bacon's view, too, exactly.] I shall have no more handle whereby to take hold of reputation, or whereby it may take hold of me: for to expect that my name should receive it, in the first place, I have no name that is enough my own. Of two that I have, one is common to all my race, and even to others also: there is one family at Paris, and another at Montpelier, whose surname is _Montaigne_; another in Brittany, and Xaintonge called _De la Montaigne_. The transposition of _one syllable only_ is enough to ravel our affairs, so that I shall peradventure share in their glory, and they shall partake of my shame; and, moreover, my ancestors were formerly surnamed _Eyquem_, a name wherein a _family well known in England_ at this day is concerned. As to my other name, any one can _take it that will_, and _so_, perhaps, I may honour _a porter_ in my own stead. And, besides, though I had a particular distinction myself, what can it distinguish when I _am no more_. Can it point out and favour inanity? But will thy manes such a gift bestow As to make violets from thy ashes grow? 'But of this I have spoken elsewhere.' He has--and to purpose.