Chapter 100
On Coaches and Conquest
OF COACHES It is very easy to verify, that great authors, when they write of causes, not only make use of those they think to be the true causes, but also of those they believe not to be so, provided they have in them some beauty and invention: they speak true and usefully enough, if it be ingeniously. We cannot make ourselves sure of the supreme cause, and therefore crowd a great many together, to see if it may not accidentally be amongst them: “Namque unam dicere causam Non satis est, verum plures, unde una tamen sit.” [Lucretius, vi. 704.--The…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Namque unam dicere causam Non satis est, verum plures, unde una tamen sit"
Context: Many causes
Opening method.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne quotes Lucretius on causes: one cause is not enough; we must offer many so that one may yet be true. Causes multiply. When certainty fails, list honest possibilities instead of forcing the first elegant guess alone to carry the whole explanation by itself in public.
"whence comes the custom of blessing those who sneeze? We break wind three several ways; that which sallies from below is too filthy; that which breaks out from the mouth carries with it some reproach of gluttony; the third is sneezing, which, because it proceeds from the head and is without offence, we give it this civil reception: do not laugh at this distinction; they say ‘tis Aristotle’s."
Context: Sneeze custom
Curious cause.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne asks whence comes the custom of blessing those who sneeze, after ranking wind from below, mouth, and head by civility. Civility invents. Notice which bodily acts culture polishes into blessing while leaving others in open reproach; the map reveals class and disgust, not nature.
"Quo timoris minus est, eo minus ferme periculi est."
Context: Fear and danger
Second half.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne cites Livy on fear: where there is least fear, there is for the most part least danger, after describing Socrates retreating calmly. Panic costs. Practice keeping sight and judgment open in peril, because inconsiderate flight often creates the very harm fear promised to avoid.
"seizing upon him, brought him to the ground."
Context: Peru king taken
Close.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says sedan-bearers died until a horseman, seizing upon the last king of Peru, brought him to the ground at last. Glory ends. Remember the exact hand that ends a reign when you hear conquest praised as civilization rather than as mere force meeting courage.
Thematic Threads
Power
In This Chapter
Montaigne exposes how power corrupts by enabling self-justification for increasingly harmful acts
Development
Deepens from earlier discussions of authority to show power's capacity for moral blindness
In Your Life:
You might see this when managers justify unfair treatment of employees as 'business necessity'
Class
In This Chapter
The essay reveals how upper classes rationalize exploitation of lower classes as civilizing missions
Development
Expands from personal class anxiety to systemic class violence disguised as progress
In Your Life:
You might experience this when wealthy people explain poverty as personal failure rather than systemic inequality
Identity
In This Chapter
Shows how people maintain positive self-image while committing atrocities through narrative manipulation
Development
Evolves from individual self-knowledge to collective self-deception on massive scales
In Your Life:
You might catch yourself doing this when you justify hurting someone by focusing on your good intentions
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Demonstrates how cultural norms can normalize violence when framed as religious or civilizing duty
Development
Builds on earlier themes to show how society creates frameworks that enable mass harm
In Your Life:
You might see this in workplace cultures that normalize overwork as 'dedication' or 'team spirit'
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
Explores how relationships become tools of domination when one party has overwhelming power advantage
Development
Extends from personal relationship dynamics to colonial relationships between civilizations
In Your Life:
You might recognize this in relationships where someone uses their advantages to control rather than connect
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
This is not a test. Five prompts guide you through the chapter, from how it opens to how it closes, so you notice context and rhythm rather than facts to memorize. Sit with each question in your own words. When you see "One way to read it," treat it as a starting point, not the only answer.
- 1
What does Montaigne argue about courage when he describes Socrates retreating from battle?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
True courage isn't fearlessness but maintaining clear judgment under pressure. Socrates walked calmly, assessed his surroundings, and signaled he'd fight if cornered.
- 2
Why does Montaigne's comparison of European and indigenous views on wealth expose a deeper contradiction?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
The Spanish called indigenous peoples barbaric while torturing them for gold. The natives valued community sharing over hoarding, revealing who was actually civilized.
- 3
Where do you see Montaigne's critique of excessive royal spending playing out in contemporary leadership?
application • mediumOne way to read it
CEOs with massive compensation while laying off workers, or politicians funding pet projects while basic services crumble. True leadership serves others, not ego.
- 4
How would you apply Montaigne's insight about justified violence when facing a modern conflict?
application • deepOne way to read it
Question whether your cause truly justifies harm or if you're rationalizing self-interest. The Spanish claimed religious duty while committing atrocities for gold.
- 5
What does the indigenous response to European demands reveal about how power shapes moral reasoning?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
The powerful create elaborate justifications for exploitation. The natives' simple questions exposed the conquistadors' greed beneath religious rhetoric.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Decode the Noble Language
Think of a recent situation where someone used noble-sounding language to justify an action that hurt others—maybe at work, in politics, or in your personal life. Write down their exact words or reasoning. Then rewrite what they said in plain language, focusing on what actually happened rather than the justification. Finally, identify what they really wanted versus what they claimed to want.
Consider:
- •Pay attention to words like 'efficiency,' 'responsibility,' 'improvement,' or 'for your own good'—these often signal justified harm
- •Ask yourself: Who benefits from this action, regardless of the stated noble purpose?
- •Notice how your own mind wants to defend or excuse the behavior—this is the same psychological mechanism at work
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you used noble language to justify something you knew was questionable. What were you really after, and how did you convince yourself it was right?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 101: The Hidden Costs of Power
After coaches, conquest, and sneezes, Montaigne weighs greatness itself. He will ask what inconvenience follows when fortune lifts a man so high that privacy and ease become impossible.
