Chapter 33
When Fortune Plays by Its Own Rules
THAT FORTUNE IS OFTENTIMES OBSERVED TO ACT BY THE RULE OF REASON The inconstancy and various motions of Fortune [The term Fortune, so often employed by Montaigne, and in passages where he might have used Providence, was censured by the doctors who examined his Essays when he was at Rome in 1581. See his Travels, i. 35 and 76.] may reasonably make us expect she should present us with all sorts of faces. Can there be a more express act of justice than this? The Duc de Valentinois,--[Caesar Borgia.]--having resolved to poison Adrian, Cardinal of Corneto, with whom Pope Alexander…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"more express act of justice than this? The Duc de Valentinois,--[Caesar Borgia."
Context: Borgia poison reversed
Crime punishes itself.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne asks whether there can be a more express act of justice than Borgia's poison returning on father and son. The butler's mistake completes the plot against its makers. Do not generalize from one perfect irony; just notice how often schemes backfire without your help or your theology.
"Fortune has more judgement than we."
Context: Stone kills mother-in-law
Accident outwits intent.
In Today's Words:
After a man throwing at a dog kills his mother-in-law, Montaigne cites Menander: fortune has more judgement than we. The line is ironic and sharp, not a theology. When your plan misfires with comic precision, humility may fit better than a lecture about what justice required.
"surpasses all the rules of human prudence."
Context: Timoleon saved at sacrifice
Chance exceeds counsel.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says fortune, truly, in her conduct surpasses all the rules of human prudence. Timoleon is saved by a stranger avenging another murder at the altar, not by his own schedule. Good outcomes sometimes arrive by routes no planner would dare put in a memo or call prudent afterward.
"mouth to mouth, affectionately sucking in the last blood"
Context: Ignatius father and son
Friendship honored in death.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne closes with Ignatius father and son dying mouth to mouth, sucking the last blood of each other's lives before the executioner ends them. It is grotesque and tender at once. Fortune here does not reward virtue neatly; she only makes the scene unforgettable and morally impossible to tidy up.
Thematic Threads
Justice
In This Chapter
Random events delivering consequences that seem proportional to actions, like Borgia's plot backfiring
Development
Introduced here as a counterpoint to earlier themes about life's unfairness
In Your Life:
When someone who wronged you faces unexpected consequences without your intervention
Control
In This Chapter
Human attempts to control outcomes through elaborate schemes creating their own vulnerabilities
Development
Builds on earlier discussions of human limitations and the illusion of control
In Your Life:
When your careful plans fall apart but the random result works better than expected
Patterns
In This Chapter
Montaigne collecting examples to show that apparent randomness might follow hidden rules
Development
Extends his method of using anecdotes to reveal universal human experiences
In Your Life:
When you notice that 'coincidences' in your life seem to follow certain themes or timing
Acceptance
In This Chapter
Finding comfort in the idea that chaos sometimes serves fairness better than human judgment
Development
Continues Montaigne's theme of finding peace with uncertainty and human limitations
In Your Life:
When you stop trying to control every outcome and trust that things often work out fairly
Observation
In This Chapter
Studying historical examples to understand how fortune operates in human affairs
Development
Reinforces Montaigne's approach of learning from stories rather than abstract theories
In Your Life:
When you start noticing patterns in how events unfold around you rather than dismissing them as random
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 happens when Caesar Borgia tries to poison Cardinal Adrian, and how does Montaigne see this as Fortune acting with justice?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
The poison meant for the Cardinal accidentally kills Borgia's father the Pope instead, while Borgia himself gets sick. Montaigne sees this as Fortune delivering justice to those who plot evil.
- 2
Why does the story of the painter Protogenes throwing his sponge demonstrate Fortune's ability to surpass human skill?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
The angry, random throw of the sponge creates the perfect dog's mouth that all his careful technique couldn't achieve. Fortune accomplishes what deliberate effort failed to do.
- 3
Where do you see modern examples of bad timing or coincidences that seem to carry their own sense of justice?
application • mediumOne way to read it
A corrupt politician's scandal breaking just before an election, or a cheating student's phone dying during an exam they planned to cheat on. Random events sometimes expose wrongdoing.
- 4
How might recognizing Fortune's patterns help you handle a major setback or unexpected turn of events in your own life?
application • deepOne way to read it
Instead of seeing setbacks as purely random bad luck, you might look for hidden opportunities or justice in the timing. This perspective can provide comfort and help you stay open to unexpected benefits.
- 5
What does Montaigne's collection of stories suggest about whether we can truly control outcomes through careful planning?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Human planning often fails while random events succeed in ways that seem almost intentional. This suggests our control is limited, but Fortune may operate by deeper rules we don't understand.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Vulnerability Points
Think of a time when you tried to control an outcome through manipulation, shortcuts, or deception - even small ones like exaggerating on a resume or gossiping to gain advantage. Map out all the ways this strategy could have backfired through random events or accidents. Then compare this to a time you achieved something through straightforward effort.
Consider:
- •How many failure points did the manipulative approach create versus the honest approach?
- •What random events or timing issues could have exposed your deception?
- •Which approach would you feel more confident defending if everything went public?
Journaling Prompt
Write about a situation where you're currently tempted to take shortcuts or manipulate outcomes. What would the honest, sustainable approach look like instead?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 34: Simple Solutions to Complex Problems
Montaigne leaves fortune's theatre for a civic fix. He will propose a public place where needs and offers meet, so scholars do not starve unknown next door to willing patrons.
