Michel de Montaigne

Name: The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel.
Author: Michel de Montaigne

The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

Summary

“The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel.”, published in 1877, is a work by Michel de Montaigne. It explores elements such as countenance, conspiracy and courage.

Quotes from The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (Michel de Montaigne)

Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

“ Was
not this to express a resolution, that if his friends had a mind to
despatch him out of the world, he was willing to give them opportunity to
do it? This prince is, indeed, the sovereign pattern of hazardous
actions; but I do not know whether there be another passage in his life
wherein there is so much firm courage as in this, nor so illustrious an
image of the beauty and greatness of his mind.
Those who preach to princes so circumspect and vigilant a jealousy and
distrust, under colour of security, preach to them ruin and dishonour:
nothing noble can be performed without danger. ”

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Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

“ To invite a
man's enemies to come and cut his throat, seems a resolution a little
extravagant and odd; and yet I think he did better to take that course,
than to live in continual feverish fear of an accident for which there
was no cure. But seeing all the remedies a man can apply to such a
disease, are full of unquietness and uncertainty, 'tis better with a
manly courage to prepare one's self for the worst that can happen, and to
extract some consolation from this, that we are not certain the thing we
fear will ever come to pass. ”

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Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

“ But it is true, withal, that this undaunted assurance is not to be
represented in its simple and entire form, but by such whom the
apprehension of death, and the worst that can happen, does not terrify
and affright; for to represent a pretended resolution with a pale and
doubtful countenance and trembling limbs, for the service of an important
reconciliation, will effect nothing to purpose. ”

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Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

“ I know a person,
naturally of a very great daring and enterprising courage, whose good
fortune is continually marred by such persuasions, that he keep himself
close surrounded by his friends, that he must not hearken to any
reconciliation with his ancient enemies, that he must stand aloof, and
not trust his person in hands stronger than his own, what promises or
offers soever they may make him, or what advantages soever he may see
before him. ”

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Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

“ But it did not so happen with
our prince, his moderation and mercy not so securing him, but that he
afterwards fell into the toils of the like treason,-- [The Duc de Guise
was assassinated in 1563 by Poltrot.] --so vain and futile a thing is
human prudence; throughout all our projects, counsels and precautions,
Fortune will still be mistress of events.
We repute physicians fortunate when they hit upon a lucky cure, as if
there was no other art but theirs that could not stand upon its own legs,
and whose foundations are too weak to support itself upon its own basis ”

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Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

“ There happen, sometimes, fortuitous alacrities and strange
furies in their deliberations, that for the most part prompt them to
follow the worst grounded counsels, and swell their courage beyond the
limits of reason. ”

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Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

“ As to military enterprises, every one sees how great a hand Fortune has
in them. Even in our counsels and deliberations there must, certainly,
be something of chance and good-luck mixed with human prudence; for all
that our wisdom can do alone is no great matter ”

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Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

“ 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 ”

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Source: Wikisource

Michel de Montaigne, The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (1877)

“ His wife Livia, seeing him in
this perplexity: "Will you take a woman's counsel?" said she. "Do as
the physicians do, who, when the ordinary recipes will do no good, make
trial of the contrary. By severity you have hitherto prevailed nothing ”

Michel de Montaigne

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Quotes from The Essays of Montaigne — Chapter XXIII. Various events from the same counsel… (Michel de Montaigne)

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