I am always amazed to see people devote vast energies to growing “more effective” without having a clear idea of their goals. How is one supposed to measure “effectiveness” if there is no avowed goal to pursue? Michel de Montaigne (1533-1592) was suspicious of vague promises in any area of life. He considered it self-evident that the first step is to define one’s goals, and that “effectiveness” is to be measured in relation to the achievement of that goal. Objectives vary depending on the person, but one should regard them as valid as long as they are ethical; from the moral point of view, Montaigne didn’t see any fundamental difference between military leaders, artists, philosophers, merchants and farmers. Each profession offers paths to virtue or vice, achievement or decay, greatness or demise. In his essay titled “On the most excellent men,” Montaigne analysed biographies of remarkable individuals and identified their shared character traits, namely, moral strength, ambition, resourcefulness, honesty and sense of justice. I view Montaigne’s reasoning as flawless in this respect, and I commend his conclusions to those seeking personal growth. I must first however define what Montaigne meant by “excellent men.” Montaigne’s definition is teleological and ethical, that is, he is praising individuals who have chosen ambitious objectives and pursue them assiduously, sometimes against all odds. The term “teleological” is derived from the ancient Greek word “telos,” which means “objective.” Thus, Montaigne calls excellent those who have set themselves important objectives (“telos”) and deploy steady efforts to achieve them. Montaigne equates the pursuit of important objectives with the pursuit of happiness. If we can achieve those objectives, he explains, great; and if not, we will have at least lived our life in an honourable, productive, enjoyable manner. Happiness and personal growth are the underlying themes of Montaigne’s essay “On the most excellent men.” The lessons drawn from those biographies are meant to help us achieve a higher level of happiness. Here is the link to the original article: https://johnvespasian.com/personal-growth-and-montaignes-concept-of-virtue/