An excerpt from the original text.(complete · 792 words)
apoleon enters Moscow after the brilliant victory de la Moskowa; there
can be no doubt about the victory for the battlefield remains in the
hands of the French. The Russians retreat and abandon their ancient
capital. Moscow, abounding in provisions, arms, munitions, and
incalculable wealth, is in Napoleon’s hands. The Russian army, only half
the strength of the French, does not make a single attempt to attack for
a whole month. Napoleon’s position is most brilliant. He can either fall
on the Russian army with double its strength and destroy it; negotiate
an advantageous peace, or in case of a refusal make a menacing move on
Petersburg, or even, in the case of a reverse, return to Smolénsk or
Vílna; or remain in Moscow; in short, no special genius would seem to be
required to retain the brilliant position the French held at that time.
For that, only very simple and easy steps were necessary: not to allow
the troops to loot, to prepare winter clothing—of which there was
sufficient in Moscow for the whole army—and methodically to collect the
provisions, of which (according to the French historians) there were
enough in Moscow to supply the whole army for six months. Yet Napoleon,
that greatest of all geniuses, who the historians declare had control of
the army, took none of these steps.
He not merely did nothing of the kind, but on the contrary he used his
power to select the most foolish and ruinous of all the courses open
to him. Of all that Napoleon might have done: wintering in Moscow,
advancing on Petersburg or on Nízhni-Nóvgorod, or retiring by a more
northerly or more southerly route (say by the road Kutúzov afterwards
took), nothing more stupid or disastrous can be imagined than what he
actually did. He remained in Moscow till October, letting the troops
plunder the city; then, hesitating whether to leave a garrison behind
him, he quitted Moscow, approached Kutúzov without joining battle,
turned to the right and reached Málo-Yaroslávets, again without
attempting to break through and take the road Kutúzov took, but retiring
instead to Mozháysk along the devastated Smolénsk road. Nothing more
stupid than that could have been devised, or more disastrous for the
army, as the sequel showed. Had Napoleon’s aim been to destroy his army,
the most skillful strategist could hardly have devised any series
of actions that would so completely have accomplished that purpose,
independently of anything the Russian army might do.
Napoleon, the man of genius, did this! But to say that he destroyed his
army because he wished to, or because he was very stupid, would be as
unjust as to say that he had brought his troops to Moscow because he
wished to and because he was very clever and a genius.
In both cases his personal activity, having no more force than the
personal activity of any soldier, merely coincided with the laws that
guided the event.
The historians quite falsely represent Napoleon’s faculties as having
weakened in Moscow, and do so only because the results did not justify
his actions. He employed all his ability and strength to do the best he
could for himself and his army, as he had done previously and as he did
subsequently in 1813. His activity at that time was no less astounding
than it was in Egypt, in Italy, in Austria, and in Prussia. We do not
know for certain in how far his genius was genuine in Egypt—where forty
centuries looked down upon his grandeur—for his great exploits there are
all told us by Frenchmen. We cannot accurately estimate his genius in
Austria or Prussia, for we have to draw our information from French
or German sources, and the incomprehensible surrender of whole corps
without fighting and of fortresses without a siege must incline Germans
to recognize his genius as the only explanation of the war carried on
in Germany. But we, thank God, have no need to recognize his genius
in order to hide our shame. We have paid for the right to look at the
matter plainly and simply, and we will not abandon that right.
His activity in Moscow was as amazing and as full of genius as
elsewhere. Order after order and plan after plan were issued by him
from the time he entered Moscow till the time he left it. The absence
of citizens and of a deputation, and even the burning of Moscow, did not
disconcert him. He did not lose sight either of the welfare of his
army or of the doings of the enemy, or of the welfare of the people
of Russia, or of the direction of affairs in Paris, or of diplomatic
considerations concerning the terms of the anticipated peace.
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Let's Analyse the Pattern
The Genius Trap - When Your Strengths Become Your Weakness
When the very strengths that brought success become the weaknesses that cause failure because circumstances have changed but methods haven't adapted.
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when your greatest strengths have become your biggest obstacles to growth.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're applying old solutions to new problems—ask yourself 'What got me here won't get me there, so what needs to change?'
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Napoleon's position is most brilliant. He can either fall on the Russian army with double its strength and destroy it; negotiate an advantageous peace, or in case of a refusal make a menacing move on Petersburg"
Context: Tolstoy listing all of Napoleon's strategic options after conquering Moscow
This shows how completely Napoleon dominated the situation - he had multiple winning moves available. The tragedy is that he chose none of them, making his later failure even more puzzling.
In Today's Words:
He held all the cards and could have won in several different ways.
"Yet Napoleon, that greatest of all geniuses, who the historians declare had control of the army, took none of these steps"
Context: After describing all the obvious smart moves Napoleon could have made
Tolstoy's central puzzle - how could someone so brilliant make such obviously bad choices? This sets up his argument that individual genius has limits when facing overwhelming circumstances.
In Today's Words:
But this guy everyone calls a genius did exactly the opposite of what made sense.
"For that, only very simple and easy steps were necessary: not to allow the troops to loot, to prepare winter clothing"
Context: Explaining what Napoleon should have done to maintain his position
Tolstoy emphasizes how basic and obvious the right moves were - this wasn't rocket science. Napoleon's failure becomes more mysterious because the solutions were so simple.
In Today's Words:
All he had to do was follow basic common sense - stop the stealing and get ready for winter.
Thematic Threads
Power
In This Chapter
Napoleon's absolute power gives him every strategic option but also isolates him from feedback that might prevent his worst decisions
Development
Throughout the book, characters with power consistently make choices that seem obviously wrong to observers
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you're the boss, parent, or expert whose authority prevents others from telling you hard truths.
Identity
In This Chapter
Napoleon's identity as military genius prevents him from adapting strategies that would contradict his self-image
Development
Characters repeatedly struggle when their circumstances demand behaviors that conflict with how they see themselves
In Your Life:
This shows up when your professional identity or family role keeps you stuck in patterns that no longer serve you.
Control
In This Chapter
Napoleon believes his personal will and genius can overcome any obstacle, but some forces are simply beyond individual control
Development
The tension between personal agency and larger forces has been building throughout the novel
In Your Life:
You see this when you keep trying to control outcomes through sheer effort instead of adapting to what's actually possible.
Expectations
In This Chapter
Everyone expects Napoleon to make brilliant decisions because he always has, creating pressure that may actually impair his judgment
Development
Social expectations have consistently trapped characters throughout the story
In Your Life:
This appears when others' expectations of your competence prevent you from admitting uncertainty or asking for help.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Napoleon had every advantage in Moscow - superior forces, a conquered city, multiple strategic options. What specific choices did he make that led to disaster?
analysis • surface - 2
Why couldn't Napoleon's proven military genius solve the problems he faced in Russia? What was different about this situation?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about someone you know who was successful in one area but struggled when circumstances changed. What patterns do you see between their situation and Napoleon's?
application • medium - 4
When have you experienced success in one situation that actually hurt you in a different context? How did you recognize what needed to change?
application • deep - 5
What does Napoleon's story reveal about the relationship between individual talent and circumstances beyond our control?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Success Trap Assessment
Identify one area where you've been successful using specific methods or approaches. Now think about a current challenge you're facing. Write down your usual methods, then honestly assess whether those same approaches might be holding you back in this new situation. What would you need to do differently?
Consider:
- •Success can create blind spots - we stop questioning what works
- •The same strength in different circumstances can become a weakness
- •Recognizing when to adapt is often harder than the actual change itself
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when something that made you successful in the past became an obstacle. How did you realize you needed to change your approach, and what did you learn about flexibility?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 288: Napoleon's Grand Illusion of Control
Tolstoy continues exploring the mystery of Napoleon's decisions, diving deeper into the forces that shaped this pivotal moment in history. The philosophical examination of power, genius, and historical inevitability intensifies.
