Which renaissance idea does this passage support? we have lived enough for others, let us at least live out the small remnant of life for ourselves; let us now call in our thoughts and intentions to ourselves, and to our own ease and repose. 'tis no light thing to make a sure retreat; it will be enough for us to do without mixing other enterprises. since god gives us leisure to order our removal, let us make ready, truss our baggage, take leave betimes of the company, and disentangle ourselves from those violent importunities that engage us elsewhere and separate us from ourselves.. . the greatest thing in the world is for a man to know that he is his own.4—michel de montaigne?