Chapter 297
The Emperor's Close Call
From the time he received this news to the end of the campaign all Kutúzov’s activity was directed toward restraining his troops, by authority, by guile, and by entreaty, from useless attacks, maneuvers, or encounters with the perishing enemy. Dokhtúrov went to Málo-Yaroslávets, but Kutúzov lingered with the main army and gave orders for the evacuation of Kalúga—a retreat beyond which town seemed to him quite possible. Everywhere Kutúzov retreated, but the enemy without waiting for his retreat fled in the opposite direction. Napoleon’s historians describe to us his skilled maneuvers at Tarútino and Málo-Yaroslávets, and make conjectures as to…
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Critical Thinking Exercise
Permission Audit
Make two lists: situations in your life where you're seeing warning signs but haven't acted, and external events you're unconsciously waiting for to give you 'permission' to make changes. For each situation, write down what the early warning signs are telling you and what action you'd take if you gave yourself permission right now.
Consider:
- •Look for patterns where you explain away obvious problems
- •Notice if you're waiting for someone else to make the decision for you
- •Consider what you'd advise a friend in the same situation
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when you waited too long to act on something you knew needed to change. What would have happened if you'd trusted your instincts earlier instead of waiting for external permission?
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