“By Diverse Means We Arrive at the Same End” in The Complete Essays of Montaigne

p. 3

By several examples Montaigne shows that people who have been conquered and are at the mercy of their conquerors may sometimes soften the hearts of the victors by submission, supplication, tears, entreaties, etc., but, remarkably, will sometime achieve the same end by fighting valiantly on, 3 against 100, or so. The victors may be moved as much or more by such valor and courage as they would have been, or were, by submission and tears. Montaigne wonders if men, especially, respond more to the latter.