Antoine Gombaud MÉRÉ

First edition.
Contemporary speckled brown calf binding. Decorated spine with raised bands. Red morocco title label. 2 corners slightly bumped. Handsome copy.
3 treatises present in this collection all concern a reflection on the honest man. The fourth is entitled Le commerce du monde. If Faret had already treated the qualities of the honest man, it is the chevalier de Méré, through his three treatises published after his death, who would be its true theorist, founding his principles on a philosophy of life in society, combining the qualities of the heart with taste, culture and wit.
It was regarding honesty that Méré and Pascal formed a long friendship. Pascal would subsequently remain faithful to a certain practice of honesty, and above all reflect on the subtleties and delicacy of spirit that it supposed. Méré would be the inspiration for several "pensées".