A 16th-century nobleman invented the essay just to keep asking 'what do I know?'

Retreating to his tower library in the 1570s, Michel de Montaigne began writing short, meandering pieces that doubled back on themselves and admitted their own uncertainty — a form he called 'essais,' or attempts. His motto, 'Que sais-je?' ('What do I know?'), summed up a radical skepticism about how little anyone can be sure of, including himself.

— Michel de Montaigne, The Complete Essays — 1580 (first edition)