Chapter 48
War Horses and the Art of Control
OF WAR HORSES, OR DESTRIERS I here have become a grammarian, I who never learned any language but by rote, and who do not yet know adjective, conjunction, or ablative. I think I have read that the Romans had a sort of horses by them called ‘funales’ or ‘dextrarios’, which were either led horses, or horses laid on at several stages to be taken fresh upon occasion, and thence it is that we call our horses of service ‘destriers’; and our romances commonly use the phrase of ‘adestrer’ for ‘accompagner’, to accompany. They also called those that were trained in…
Public-domain chapter text, formatted for reading.
Master this chapter. Complete your experience
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I think I have read that the Romans had a sort of horses by them called ‘funales’ or ‘dextrarios"
Context: Relay mounts
Names carry history.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says he thinks he read that Romans had horses called funales or dextrarios, either led horses or mounts staged fresh at several points along a route. Infrastructure shapes the fight. Notice how much of your success depends on support systems nobody applauds when they work.
"There are many horses trained to help their riders so as to run upon any one, that appears with a drawn sword, to fall both with mouth and heels upon any that front or oppose them: but it often happens that they do more harm to their friends than to their enemies; and, moreover, you cannot loose them from their hold, to reduce them again into order, when they are once engaged and grappled, by which means you remain at the mercy of their quarrel."
Context: Autonomous chargers
Training outruns rider.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says many horses were trained to run upon anyone appearing with a drawn sword, falling on the enemy with mouth and heels without waiting for the rider's order. The mount has its own reflexes. When your tool anticipates threats, confirm it still distinguishes friend from foe.
"so active were the men, and the horses so docile."
Context: Numidian cavalry
Partnership on display.
In Today's Words:
Livy, quoted by Montaigne, says of Numidian horsemen leaping between mounts in battle that so active were the men and the horses so docile together. Peak performance looks effortless on the field. Remember how much practice hides behind the stunt you are tempted to copy tomorrow.
"When I was a boy, the prince of Sulmona, riding an unbroken horse at Naples, prone to all sorts of action, held reals--[A small coin of Spain, the Two Sicilies, &c."
Context: Display of mastery
Control as spectacle.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne recalls the prince of Sulmona riding an unbroken horse at Naples while holding reals under his knees and toes to show the firmness of his seat. He turned risk into proof. Ask whether you are demonstrating skill or depending on a trained animal you cannot reproduce alone.
Thematic Threads
Control
In This Chapter
Warriors discover that gaining power through horses means losing control over their own fate
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might feel this when your work performance depends entirely on systems you don't control.
Identity
In This Chapter
Different cultures built their warrior identity around specific fighting styles and tools
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might see this in how your professional identity becomes tied to specific technologies or methods.
Class
In This Chapter
Cavalry represented elite status but created elite vulnerabilities that infantry avoided
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might notice how status symbols often come with hidden costs and dependencies.
Personal Growth
In This Chapter
Montaigne examines how choosing our tools and dependencies shapes our development
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when deciding whether to learn new skills or rely on existing systems.
Human Relationships
In This Chapter
The bond between warrior and horse reveals how partnerships can be both strength and weakness
Development
Introduced here
In Your Life:
You might see this in how close relationships can make you both stronger and more vulnerable.
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 paradox does Montaigne reveal about trained war horses that could attack enemies?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
They often harmed their own riders' allies and couldn't be controlled once engaged in combat, making them unreliable despite their power.
- 2
Why does Montaigne prefer swords over pistols, and what does this reveal about his view of dependable tools?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
Pistols require multiple components (powder, stone, wheel) that can fail, while swords depend only on the wielder's skill. He values tools we can fully control.
- 3
Where do you see Montaigne's power-vulnerability pattern in modern technology or relationships?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Smartphones make us powerful but dependent on batteries, networks, and apps. Like war horses, they can fail when we need them most.
- 4
How would you apply Montaigne's advice about choosing reliable tools to a major decision you're facing?
application • deepOne way to read it
Focus on options with fewer failure points and more personal control. For career choices, prioritize skills over credentials that depend on external validation.
- 5
What does Montaigne's contrast between cavalry and infantry combat suggest about human nature and self-reliance?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
We're drawn to power multipliers but often sacrifice autonomy for capability. True strength may come from mastering what we can directly control.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map Your Power Dependencies
List three tools or systems that make you more capable at work or home. For each one, identify what would happen if it failed tomorrow and what backup plan you currently have. This exercise reveals where you've traded self-reliance for efficiency, and helps you decide which dependencies are worth maintaining.
Consider:
- •Consider both digital tools and physical systems you rely on
- •Think about gradual failure, not just complete breakdown
- •Notice which failures would affect others who depend on you
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when a tool or system you relied on failed at the worst possible moment. How did you adapt? What did you learn about building backup capabilities?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 49: Fashion, Custom, and Human Folly
After destriers and drilled fury, Montaigne inspects custom itself. Romans will mock beards, then punish men who shave, as if each fashion were eternal law.
