Chapter 83
When Fear Makes Us Cruel
COWARDICE THE MOTHER OF CRUELTY I have often heard it said that cowardice is the mother of cruelty; and I have found by experience that malicious and inhuman animosity and fierceness are usually accompanied with feminine weakness. I have seen the most cruel people, and upon frivolous occasions, apt to cry. Alexander, the tyrant of Pheres, durst not be a spectator of tragedies in the theatre, for fear lest his citizens should see him weep at the misfortunes of Hecuba and Andromache, who himself without pity caused so many people every day to be murdered. Is it not meanness of…
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Now let's explore the literary elements.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"cowardice is the mother of cruelty; and I have found by experience that malicious and inhuman animosity and fierceness are usually accompanied with feminine weakness."
Context: Opening thesis
Essay's claim.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says he has often heard that cowardice is the mother of cruelty and found fierce people accompanied by feminine weakness. Fear breeds bite. When cruelty clusters around tears and frivolous triggers, suspect cowardice performing as dominance Ask what evidence you have beyond the first impulse..
"Killing is good to frustrate an offence to come, not to revenge one that is already past; and more an act of fear than of bravery"
Context: Revenge logic
Mid turn.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says killing frustrates a future offence, not a past one, and is more an act of fear than of bravery. Elimination over proof. If someone must destroy an enemy who can no longer respond, they are usually preventing tomorrow's injury, not settling yesterday's Ask what evidence you have beyond the first impulse..
"three Frenchmen into the deserts of Libya, they will not live a month together without fighting"
Context: Duel culture
Second half.
In Today's Words:
Montaigne says put three Frenchmen in Libya's desert and they will not live a month together without fighting, exporting tragedy abroad. Quarrel as costume. When a group cannot travel without performing conflict, the problem is identity, not the desert Ask what evidence you have beyond the first impulse..
"death is now the only means of your defence and liberty, and shall administer occasion to the gods to exercise their sacred justice: these sharp swords, and these full cups, will open you the way into it; courage, fear nothing! And thou, my son, who art the eldest, take this steel into thy hand, that thou mayest the more bravely die."
Context: Children's end
Close horror.
In Today's Words:
Theoxena told her nephews that death is now the only means of their defence and liberty, offering swords and poison as Philip's men closed in. Mercy through murder. Extreme tenderness can look like cruelty when fear of a worse captor leaves no honest exit Ask what evidence you have beyond the first impulse..
Thematic Threads
Power Dynamics
In This Chapter
Montaigne shows how tyrants and bullies use cruelty to mask their fundamental weakness and fear
Development
Builds on earlier observations about authority and social hierarchies
In Your Life:
You might see this when supervisors who feel insecure about their position become unnecessarily harsh with employees.
Fear
In This Chapter
Fear is revealed as the driving force behind excessive punishment and violence toward the helpless
Development
Expands previous discussions of courage to examine its opposite
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you feel the urge to be harsh with someone after feeling threatened yourself.
Identity
In This Chapter
People construct false identities of strength through cruelty when they feel weak inside
Development
Continues exploration of how people present themselves versus who they really are
In Your Life:
You might see this when someone acts tough or mean to hide their own vulnerability and insecurity.
Social Expectations
In This Chapter
Dueling culture shows how social codes of honor can be corrupted by fear and cowardice
Development
Examines how social rituals meant to demonstrate courage can become twisted
In Your Life:
You might notice this when workplace or social 'traditions' become excuses for cruel behavior.
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 say Alexander the tyrant could weep at plays but murder citizens daily?
analysis • surfaceOne way to read it
Alexander's tears showed emotional weakness, not compassion. He could feel for fictional characters safely, but killed real people to mask his cowardice and maintain control through fear.
- 2
How does Montaigne's distinction between valor and pusillanimity explain why cowards kill rather than defeat enemies?
analysis • mediumOne way to read it
True valor stops when the enemy surrenders because it seeks honor, not elimination. Cowards kill quickly because they fear the enemy might recover and retaliate later.
- 3
Where do you see Montaigne's pattern of fear driving cruelty in workplace bullying or online harassment?
application • mediumOne way to read it
Workplace bullies often target those who can't fight back, like new employees. Online trolls attack from anonymity. Both mask personal insecurity with aggression toward the vulnerable.
- 4
How would you apply Montaigne's insight about restraint showing strength when dealing with someone who has wronged you?
application • deepOne way to read it
Rather than seeking maximum punishment, you might choose measured response that makes your point without destroying them. This shows confidence in your position and moral strength.
- 5
What does Theoxena's choice to kill her children rather than let them face Philip reveal about how fear shapes moral decisions?
reflection • deepOne way to read it
Fear can make even love destructive. Theoxena's terror of Philip's cruelty led her to commit the very violence she sought to prevent, showing how fear corrupts our deepest values.
Critical Thinking Exercise
Map the Fear Behind the Cruelty
Think of someone you've encountered who was unnecessarily cruel or harsh—a boss, teacher, family member, or public figure. Write down their cruel behavior, then dig deeper: What might they have been afraid of? What threat or insecurity could have been driving their need to dominate others? Map the connection between their fear and their cruelty.
Consider:
- •Look for patterns: Do they target people who can't fight back while avoiding real challenges?
- •Consider what they might lose if they appeared weak or vulnerable
- •Think about whether their cruelty actually solved their underlying problem or just created new ones
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you felt powerless and took it out on someone else. What were you really afraid of? How did it feel afterward, and what would you do differently now?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 84: All Things Have Their Season
After fear's long cruelty, Montaigne turns to life's timing. Cato the Censor will learn Greek in old age while the younger Cato spends the night he is to die in reading, treating loss of office and loss of life as one.
