Abstract: This article argues that while Montaigne and Hobbes consider the pact formed by speech important, they also regard it as insufficient. If they both think a certain hypocrisy and holding back of speech are necessary for personal morality, Hobbes differs from Montaigne on the question of private obligation. He concedes less than Montaigne to Machiavelli as far as deceit is concerned, but also proposes a political remedy to the weakness of obligations based solely on spoken declarations.
