Étienne de La Boétie
1530–1563
· lived 32 years
FR
FR
Étienne de La Boétie was a French jurist, poet, and political activist, best known for his essay 'Discourse on Voluntary Servitude'. A close friend and collaborator of Michel de Montaigne, La Boétie is admired for his eloquence and his ideas on freedom and tyranny, which continue to influence political thought.
n. 1530-11-01, Sarlat-la-Canéda · m. 1563-08-18, Le Taillan-Médoc
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Born in Sarlat-la-Canéda, Aquitaine, La Boétie showed early talent for law and literature. His 'Discourse on Voluntary Servitude', written around the age of 16, is a profound analysis of why peoples voluntarily submit to the oppression of tyrants. The work questions the foundations of authoritarian power and suggests that freedom is a natural state of being for humans, and servitude a choice. Despite his short life, La Boétie left a significant intellectual legacy. He was also a poet, translator, and held public office, but his fame is intrinsically linked to his powerful reflection on political freedom and the nature of power.
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