Why did Michel de Montaigne call his writings Essais or Attempts?

Michel de Montaigne titled his work Essais—or "Attempts"—to reflect his intellectual approach during a period of significant ideological division and uncertainty in 16th-century France.1

Rather than presenting his writings as a collection of proven knowledge or confident, finalized opinions, Montaigne used the term to signify a project of trial and error and tentative exploration. His skepticism led him to question the possibility of absolute certainty, viewing his work as a continuous process of questioning and assessment rather than a structured, definitive treatise.1

By choosing this title, Montaigne emphasized that his writings were not meant to establish an internal unity or a fixed doctrine. Instead, they served as a personal, informal, and evolving record of his thoughts as they occurred to him. This choice of title underscored his commitment to authenticity, as he sought to explore the human condition through the lens of his own experiences, body, and mind, rather than relying on externally imposed notions or abstract generalizations.1