compassion in Freemasonry Archieven

Rough ashlar and working tools symbolizing Masonic self-improvement and compassion

Montaigne on Cruelty: How Compassion Makes You a Better Man

You’re stuck in traffic when someone cuts you off, and irritation flares instantly. At work, a colleague dismisses your idea, and your thoughts drift toward resentment. These are small moments, but they reveal something larger: how quickly we harden ourselves against others. Michel de Montaigne addressed this very mechanism in the sixteenth century in his essay “Of Cruelty.” His conclusion? Cruelty is not a sign of strength — it is a sign of weakness. And compassion is not softness — it is the highest form of human civilization. For Freemasons, who dedicate themselves to moral refinement and brotherhood, Montaigne holds up a practical mirror: how gentle are we, really, in our daily conduct? What Montaigne Teaches Us About Cruelty In his essay, Michel de Montaigne examines why human beings are cruel — not only to one another, but also to animals. He observes that cruelty often grows from habit and indifference. Once a person becomes accustomed to inflicting pain, he argues, the capacity for empathy gradually erodes. This is not some abstract philosophical puzzle. It speaks directly to how we treat colleagues, family members, strangers on the street, and even ourselves. Montaigne notes that hunters who kill animals without hesitation […]

Rough ashlar stone symbolizing self-improvement through compassion in Freemasonry

Montaigne on Cruelty: Why Compassion Makes Us Truly Human

Imagine witnessing needless suffering inflicted by someone who takes pleasure in it. You feel an instinctive revulsion — perhaps even physical disgust. Michel de Montaigne knew that feeling intimately. In his essay “Of Cruelty,” he explores why cruelty repels him so deeply and what this reveals about our shared human nature. More than four centuries later, his reflections still cut to the heart of fundamental questions about compassion, character, and how we treat other living beings — questions that resonate powerfully within the traditions of Freemasonry. Cruelty as the Deepest Vice For Montaigne, cruelty is not simply one vice among many — it is the worst of them all. While other failings spring from weakness, ignorance, or uncontrolled passion, cruelty stems from a deliberate choice to inflict suffering with no purpose beyond the suffering itself. It represents a perversion of human nature that filled Montaigne with genuine horror. Montaigne writes with striking candor about his own sensitivity. He cannot bear to watch a chicken having its neck wrung, and the death cry of a hare caught by his hounds causes him genuine distress. But this is not weakness, he argues. It is the sign of a sensitive soul that recognizes […]