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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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"I give it over; it shakes us too much"
Context: Quitting posting
Limit accepted.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says he had been skilled at posting, proper for a short well-knit man, but he gave it over because it shakes us too much to continue it long. Past skill is not destiny. You are allowed to stop doing what you once did well when the damage has become the price of pride.
"shakes us too much to continue it long."
Context: Body's veto
Physical cost.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne quit posting because the exercise shakes us too much to continue it long, however fast or capable he had been. Endurance has limits. Listen when a practice leaves you rattled for days; that is data, not weakness talking Ask what evidence you have beyond the first impulse..
"giving him their own tired horses; and that to preserve themselves from being weary, they gird themselves straight about the middle with a broad girdle; but I could never find any benefit from this."
Context: Wallachian couriers
Second half.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne describes Wallachian couriers who may dismount the first person they meet, giving him their own tired horses to keep speed. Systems outsource exhaustion. Ask who pays when your urgency depends on seizing someone else's depleted resources Ask what evidence you have beyond the first impulse..
"broad girdle; but I could never find any benefit"
Context: Girdle trial
Close.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says couriers gird themselves with a broad girdle against weariness, but he could never find any benefit from this himself. Folk fixes fail. Before you copy a pro's hack, test whether it helps your body rather than only their legend Ask what evidence you have beyond the first impulse..
Thematic Threads
Adaptation
In This Chapter
Montaigne adapts from physical posting to intellectual observation, while historical figures adapt transportation methods to overcome distance
Development
Introduced here as response to physical limitations and external demands
In Your Life:
You adapt your parenting style when your teenager stops responding to old approaches
Innovation
In This Chapter
Creative solutions emerge from urgent needs—swallows as messengers, swimming rivers, human relay systems
Development
Introduced here as human response to communication challenges
In Your Life:
You find new ways to stretch your grocery budget when unexpected bills arrive
Physical Limits
In This Chapter
Montaigne acknowledges his aging body can't handle posting; leaders overcome distance through systematic planning
Development
Introduced here as catalyst for both personal reflection and historical innovation
In Your Life:
You recognize when your back can't handle the same work pace and must find smarter approaches
Efficiency
In This Chapter
Every example focuses on maximum speed with minimal waste—precise horse intervals, color-coded messages, continuous relay systems
Development
Introduced here as driving force behind all communication innovations
In Your Life:
You develop systems to get your morning routine down to thirty minutes when your shift starts earlier
Resourcefulness
In This Chapter
Using whatever's available—birds, rivers, commandeered horses, human carriers—to solve urgent problems
Development
Introduced here as universal human trait across cultures and centuries
In Your Life:
You figure out how to make Thanksgiving dinner work when the oven breaks two hours before guests arrive
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
Why does Montaigne admit he gave up posting despite being skilled at it?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
He recognizes his physical limitations with age, saying it 'shakes us too much to continue it long.' This honest self-assessment sets up his admiration for those who pushed beyond normal limits.
- 2
What makes Caesar's river-swimming approach more effective than finding bridges or fords?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
Swimming directly across saves time by refusing detours, even at personal cost. Caesar prioritized speed over comfort, showing how urgency can justify seemingly reckless choices.
- 3
Where do you see modern equivalents of Cecina's swallows or Roman pigeons for quick communication?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Text messages, emergency alerts, or drone deliveries serve similar functions. Like trained birds, these systems bypass traditional routes to deliver information instantly across distances.
- 4
How would you design a modern relay system for a crisis where normal communication fails?
application • deepOne way to read it
Combine multiple methods like Montaigne's examples: motorcycle couriers for short distances, ham radio operators as relay points, and pre-positioned supply caches. Redundancy prevents single points of failure.
- 5
What does Montaigne's catalog of speed innovations reveal about how humans respond to distance and time constraints?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Urgency drives creativity beyond conventional limits. When stakes are high enough, people will swim rivers, commandeer horses, or train birds rather than accept delays.
Critical Thinking Exercise
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?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 79: When Bad Means Serve Good Ends
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.
