Étienne de La Boétie

Marc-André Wiesmann (Skidmore College)

Ed. by Robert J. Hudson, Brigham Young University
The Literary Encyclopedia. Volume 1.5.2.02: French Writing and Culture in the Renaissance, 1400-1600.
Vol. editors: Robert J. Hudson (Brigham Young University), Tim Unwin (University of Bristol), Phillip John Usher (New York University), David Williams (University of Sheffield)

Dates

Born 1 Nov 1530
Died 18 Aug 1563

Places

Active in France

Activities

Primary

Political Philosopher

Other

Poet
Statesman

Resources

de La Boétie's Works

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“Parce que c’était lui; parce que c’était moi” [Because it was him: because it was me (trans. Screech 212)]. Owing his continued renown (despite his own important philosophical writings to be examined below) to the sentiment expressed by his dearest friend Michel de Montaigne in his essay “De l’Amitié” [On Friendship – I, 28], Étienne de La Boétie (1530–1563) and the friendship they shared represents the paragon of intimate companionship and intellectual like-mindedness for the pioneering Renaissance essayist. In his ballad “Les copains d’abord” [Onboard buddies first], 2oth-century troubadour Georges Brassens alludes to the complex and, to this day, not fully understood ties between La Boétie and Montaigne as he sentimentally celebrates friendship of…

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2892 words

Citation: Wiesmann, Marc-André. "Étienne de La Boétie". The Literary Encyclopedia. First published 17 May 2018 [https://www.litencyc.com/php/speople.php?rec=true&UID=14102, accessed 22 November 2024.]