The Essays of Montaigne Ch. 78: The Art of Moving Fast

Michel de Montaigne

The Art of Moving Fast

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Summary

Montaigne once excelled at posting, riding fast on a short well-knit frame suited to men of his pitch, but gave it up because it shakes the body too much to continue long.

He marvels at ancient speed: Cyrus covered vast distances, Caesar's relays changed horses every eight miles, and Cecina sent news home by marked swallows released toward their nests. Livy tells of couriers riding three days from Amphissa to Pella on established posts, not borrowed horses alone.

Wallachian couriers still astonish by seizing fresh horses from the first rider they meet; Montaigne tried the broad girdle they use against weariness and found no benefit from it.

In this chapter: Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story

Why This Matters

Knowing When To Stop

We keep pushing a practice because we were once good at it, even when the cost has outgrown the gain. Montaigne says he had been none of the least able at posting, yet gave it over because it shakes us too much to continue it long.

Before you prove stamina, ask whether the skill still fits the body and life you have now.

Coming Up in Chapter 79

After speed on the road, Montaigne weighs means and ends. Lycurgus will make Spartans drunk on helots to teach abstinence, and modern wars will hire foreigners to stake blood for pay Montaigne says nature's government shows wonderful correspondence, yet men sometimes license ill means for good ends, as when Lycurgus made helots drunk to teach Spartans to abhor excess. He collects harsh customs: condemned.

Lesson

What this chapter proves — the pattern beneath the scene

In this chapter, the lesson is Liberty Rehearsed in Advance.

The card below names the pattern this chapter proves — carry it with you into the original text.

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Liberty Rehearsed in Advance

He once posted well, a short frame suited to fast riding, then gave it up because the shaking was too much to continue. Ancient relays amaze him. The essay is also a note on decline: move while the instrument works. Do not confuse former endurance with a duty to deny the present body.

Key Insight

Living with mortality includes respecting the mount you actually have today. Will is not a spare skeleton.

“I give it over; it shakes us too much”

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Original text

516 wordscomplete

Chapter 78

The Art of Moving Fast

OF POSTING I have been none of the least able in this exercise, which is proper for men of my pitch, well-knit and short; but I give it over; it shakes us too much to continue it long. I was at this moment reading, that King Cyrus, the better to have news brought him from all parts of the empire, which was of a vast extent, caused it to be tried how far a horse could go in a day without baiting, and at that distance appointed men, whose business it was to have horses always in readiness, to mount…

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Critical Thinking Exercise

10 minutes

Design Your Emergency Innovation System

Think of a current problem you've been putting off or struggling with for weeks or months. Now imagine you only had 48 hours to solve it, and your job or family's wellbeing depended on finding a solution. Write down three unconventional approaches you would try under this pressure that you haven't considered before.

Consider:

•What resources would you tap that you normally wouldn't ask for help from?
•What 'perfect solution' standards would you drop to focus on 'good enough' results?
•What creative combinations or shortcuts would desperation make you willing to try?

Journaling Prompt

Write about a time when real pressure forced you to find a solution you didn't think you had in you. What did that experience teach you about your own capabilities when your back is against the wall?

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Michel de Montaigne

The Art of Moving Fast

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Study guide

Summary

Montaigne once excelled at posting, riding fast on a short well-knit frame suited to men of his pitch, but gave it up because it shakes the body too much to continue long.

Wallachian couriers still astonish by seizing fresh horses from the first rider they meet; Montaigne tried the broad girdle they use against weariness and found no benefit from it.

In this chapter: Terms Characters Key Quotes Modern Story