"I'm quite influenced in this by one of my heroes, Montaigne, who thought a man's real task was to render as honest an account of himself as he could"

In this quote, author Robert Sheckley reveals his admiration for one of his heroes, Montaigne. He explains that Montaigne believed that a person's real purpose in life was to be totally sincere and transparent about themselves. This means not hiding or sugarcoating their flaws, errors, or true ideas and feelings. Instead, they should aim to provide an authentic and real account of themselves. Sheckley is motivated by this concept and most likely sees it as an important lesson to live by. By being truthful with ourselves and others, we can better understand and accept ourselves, causing individual development and satisfaction.