Summary
Montaigne examines two parallel stories of leaders facing assassination attempts. The Duke of Guise discovers a plot against his life but chooses mercy over revenge, forgiving his would-be assassin and sending him away with a lesson about religious charity. Emperor Augustus faces a similar conspiracy from Cinna, but instead of execution, he grants clemency and even promotes his enemy to consul—a decision that secures his safety for life. Yet the Duke of Guise, despite his mercy, is later murdered anyway. This contrast leads Montaigne to reflect on the role of fortune in human affairs. He argues that we overestimate our ability to control outcomes through planning and wisdom. Whether in medicine, art, war, or politics, fortune plays a decisive role that we rarely acknowledge. The chapter explores how excessive caution and suspicion can be more dangerous than bold trust. Leaders who live in constant fear of betrayal often invite the very treachery they seek to avoid. Montaigne advocates for a middle path: choosing the most honorable course of action while accepting that outcomes remain largely beyond our control. He suggests that courage sometimes means making yourself vulnerable, trusting others despite risk, and focusing on what you can control—your own character and choices—rather than trying to manipulate every variable around you.
Coming Up in Chapter 24
From political mercy, Montaigne turns his sharp eye to academic pretension. In the next chapter, he skewers the pedants and scholars who mistake knowledge for wisdom, revealing how true learning often comes from the most unexpected sources.
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An excerpt from the original text.(~500 words)
ARIOUS EVENTS FROM THE SAME COUNSEL Jacques Amiot, grand almoner of France, one day related to me this story, much to the honour of a prince of ours (and ours he was upon several very good accounts, though originally of foreign extraction),--[The Duc de Guise, surnamed Le Balafre.]--that in the time of our first commotions, at the siege of Rouen,--[In 1562]--this prince, having been advertised by the queen-mother of a conspiracy against his life, and in her letters particular notice being given him of the person who was to execute the business (who was a gentleman of Anjou or of Maine, and who to this effect ordinarily frequented this prince’s house), discovered not a syllable of this intelligence to any one whatever; but going the next day to the St. Catherine’s Mount,--[An eminence outside Rouen overlooking the Seine. D.W.]--from which our battery played against the town (for it was during the time of the siege), and having in company with him the said lord almoner, and another bishop, he saw this gentleman, who had been denoted to him, and presently sent for him; to whom, being come before him, seeing him already pale and trembling with the conscience of his guilt, he thus said, “Monsieur,” such an one, “you guess what I have to say to you; your countenance discovers it; ‘tis in vain to disguise your practice, for I am so well informed of your business, that it will but make worse for you, to go about to conceal or deny it: you know very well such and such passages” (which were the most secret circumstances of his conspiracy), “and therefore be sure, as you tender your own life, to confess to me the whole truth of the design.” The poor man seeing himself thus trapped and convicted (for the whole business had been discovered to the queen by one of the accomplices), was in such a taking, he knew not what to do; but, folding his hands, to beg and sue for mercy, he threw himself at his prince’s feet, who taking him up, proceeded to say, “Come, sir; tell me, have I at any time done you offence? or have I, through private hatred or malice, offended any kinsman or friend of yours? It is not above three weeks that I have known you; what inducement, then, could move you to attempt my death?” To which the gentleman with a trembling voice replied, “That it was no particular grudge he had to his person, but the general interest and concern of his party, and that he had been put upon it by some who had persuaded him it would be a meritorious act, by any means, to extirpate so great and so powerful an enemy of their religion.” “Well,” said the prince, “I will now let you see, how much more charitable the religion is that I maintain, than that which you profess: yours has counselled you to kill me, without hearing me speak, and without ever...
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Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Road of Honorable Risk
The more desperately we try to control outcomes through suspicion and manipulation, the more likely we are to create the very problems we're trying to prevent.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how excessive control and suspicion often create the very problems they're meant to prevent.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when your attempt to control a situation through fear or manipulation makes people more likely to resist or betray you.
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Terms to Know
Grand Almoner
A high-ranking church official who served as the king's personal chaplain and advisor on religious matters. They had significant political influence and often acted as intermediaries between church and state.
Modern Usage:
Like a chief of staff who handles both personal and political matters for a powerful leader.
Queen-Mother
Catherine de' Medici, the mother of the French king who wielded enormous political power behind the scenes. She was known for her political maneuvering and use of spies and informants.
Modern Usage:
The power broker who works behind the scenes, like a political operative or influential family matriarch who pulls strings.
Siege of Rouen
A military campaign in 1562 during France's religious civil wars, where Catholic forces attacked the Protestant-held city. These wars tore France apart as neighbors fought neighbors over religious differences.
Modern Usage:
Any prolonged conflict where communities are divided and trust breaks down, like political polarization that splits families.
Conspiracy
A secret plot to assassinate a political leader, common during this period of religious and political upheaval. Trust was scarce and paranoia was often justified.
Modern Usage:
Any secret plan to undermine or harm someone in power, from workplace politics to actual criminal plots.
Clemency
The decision to show mercy instead of punishment, especially when you have the power to destroy someone. It was considered both a virtue and a political strategy.
Modern Usage:
Choosing forgiveness over revenge when someone has wronged you, like not firing an employee who made a mistake.
Fortune
The unpredictable force that Montaigne believes controls most outcomes in life, regardless of our planning or virtue. Not luck, but the fundamental uncertainty of existence.
Modern Usage:
The reality that life is largely unpredictable despite our best efforts to control outcomes through planning and hard work.
Characters in This Chapter
The Duke of Guise
Protagonist leader facing assassination
A powerful French nobleman who discovers a plot against his life but chooses mercy over revenge. He confronts his would-be assassin with kindness, forgives him, and sends him away safely.
Modern Equivalent:
The CEO who finds out an employee is sabotaging them but chooses mentoring over firing
The Gentleman Assassin
Would-be killer
A man from Anjou hired to kill the Duke but who becomes visibly nervous when confronted. His guilt shows on his face before he even speaks.
Modern Equivalent:
The person caught red-handed in betrayal who can't hide their guilt
Jacques Amiot
Narrator and witness
The grand almoner who tells this story to Montaigne, serving as both religious advisor and political observer. He witnesses the Duke's merciful response firsthand.
Modern Equivalent:
The trusted advisor who sees everything and becomes the keeper of important stories
Emperor Augustus
Historical parallel figure
Roman emperor who faced a similar conspiracy from Cinna but chose clemency over execution. His mercy secured loyalty for life, contrasting with the Duke's later murder.
Modern Equivalent:
The leader whose forgiveness strategy actually works long-term
Cinna
Reformed conspirator
The Roman who plotted against Augustus but was forgiven and promoted to consul. His transformation from enemy to loyal ally shows mercy's potential power.
Modern Equivalent:
The former rival who becomes your strongest supporter after you show them unexpected kindness
Key Quotes & Analysis
"You guess what I have to say to you; your countenance discovers it; 'tis in vain to disguise your practice, for I am so well informed of your business"
Context: The Duke confronts his would-be assassin who is already pale and trembling with guilt
This shows how guilt reveals itself physically before words are even spoken. The Duke's calm directness demonstrates his control and confidence in a life-threatening situation.
In Today's Words:
I can see it written all over your face, so don't bother lying to me about what you're up to
"We attribute the effects we see to the counsel we were last taking"
Context: Montaigne reflects on how we wrongly credit our decisions for outcomes beyond our control
This reveals our tendency to create false narratives about cause and effect. We want to believe our choices determine outcomes more than they actually do.
In Today's Words:
We convince ourselves that whatever just happened was because of our brilliant planning
"Fortune governs all things; she advances and withdraws things from favour upon no other account than her own will"
Context: Montaigne explains why both merciful and harsh leaders can face the same fate
This captures the central theme that life's outcomes are largely beyond our control. Good people suffer and bad people prosper without clear moral logic.
In Today's Words:
Life is basically random - good things and bad things happen regardless of whether you deserve them
Thematic Threads
Fortune vs. Control
In This Chapter
Two leaders make opposite choices about mercy, with unpredictable results—showing how little our decisions actually control outcomes
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might see this when your careful planning fails while someone else's spontaneous decision succeeds perfectly.
Trust and Vulnerability
In This Chapter
Augustus chooses to trust his would-be assassin completely, making himself vulnerable but gaining lasting loyalty
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You face this every time you decide whether to give someone a second chance after they've let you down.
Character Under Pressure
In This Chapter
Both leaders reveal their true nature when facing mortal threat—one chooses mercy, the other chooses strategic clemency
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You discover who you really are in moments when you have power over someone who has wronged you.
The Limits of Wisdom
In This Chapter
Montaigne argues that we overestimate how much our intelligence and planning actually influence outcomes
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might notice this when your most careful decisions backfire while your gut instincts prove right.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Both the Duke of Guise and Emperor Augustus discovered assassination plots against them. How did each leader respond, and what were the eventual outcomes?
analysis • surface - 2
Why does Montaigne suggest that excessive caution and suspicion might actually create more danger than trust and mercy?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about workplaces, relationships, or parenting situations you've observed. Where have you seen someone's attempts to control outcomes through suspicion actually backfire?
application • medium - 4
When facing a situation where someone might betray or disappoint you, how do you decide between protecting yourself and choosing to trust? What factors guide that choice?
application • deep - 5
Montaigne argues we should focus on our character and choices rather than trying to control outcomes. What does this mean for how we handle uncertainty and risk in our daily lives?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Control vs. Trust Decisions
Think of a current situation where you're deciding between protecting yourself through control or choosing to trust despite risk. Draw two columns: 'What I Can Control' and 'What I Cannot Control.' Fill in each side, then identify what the most honorable choice would be, regardless of outcome. Consider how your attempts to control the uncontrollable might be creating the problems you're trying to avoid.
Consider:
- •Notice if your protective measures are creating resentment or distance
- •Consider whether your character and values align with your current approach
- •Examine if fear of betrayal is preventing you from building genuine connection
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when someone showed you unexpected mercy or trust when they could have chosen suspicion or punishment. How did their choice affect your behavior toward them?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 24: True Learning vs. Empty Knowledge
Moving forward, we'll examine to distinguish between genuine wisdom and mere academic posturing, and understand memorizing facts without understanding leads to intellectual emptiness. These insights bridge the gap between classic literature and modern experience.