“Though the ancient poet in Plutarch tells us we must not trouble the gods with our affairs because they take no heed of our angers and disputes, we can never enough decry the disorderly sallies of our minds.”

French philosopher and essayist of the Renaissance He pioneered the personal essay as a form of self-exploration, blending skepticism with intimate reflection on human nature. His *Essais* remain foundational for modern thought on experience, doubt, and the limits of knowledge.