In this essay, Montaigne, through a meditation on different aspects of human nature, discusses what the duties of an ambassador should be
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| 'Many(ambassadors) are expected to manage affairs of their own initiative. They do not just execute instructions, they use their discretion and wisdom to conduct their work in the best way'. |
There is a saying of
Propertius: ‘Let the sailor content himself with talking of the winds; the
cowherd of his oxen; the soldier of his wounds; the shepherd of his flocks’
I’ve found that often the
opposite is true; men prefer to talk about other men’s domains, thinking it will somehow enhance their
reputation. Archimadus once mocked Pertander by saying that he had gone from
being known as a glorious physician to gaining the reputation of a very bad
poet. Also, observe how Ceaser loves to talk at length about building bridges
and contriving war-engines, and how reserved he is when it comes to his war
duties and military conduct. He knows his exploits prove him to be a great
captain, but he also wants to be thought of as an excellent engineer. Similarly,
the elder Dionysius was a great captain, but he took very great pains to get a
reputation for poetry. Yet, he was never cut out to be a poet.
A lawyer that I know was
recently brought to a study furnished with all kinds of books – legal and
otherwise. The man ignored all the books and instead was fascinated with a
barricade placed on the winding stair before the study door, a thing that a
hundred captains and common soldiers would not have looked at twice.
Hor. said: ‘The lazy ox desires a saddle
and bridle; the horse wants to plough’
With this kind of behaviour,
of course, a man shall never improve himself, nor reach perfection at any
skill. He must, therefore, make sure that every architect, painter, statesman,
and mechanic, talk of their own capacities.
I follow this myself. For
example, when reading stories, I consider what kind of men the authors are. If
they are people that play only with words, I observe and learn style and
language; if they are physicians, I pay attention to how they report of the
temperature of the air, the health and complexions of princes, and the nature
or disease. If they are lawyers, we should pay attention to their notions of
right and wrong, the establishment of laws and governments and so on. If they
are divines, the affairs of the Church, marriage etc. should be noted; if
courtiers, manners and ceremonies; if soldiers, their actions and accounts of
the encounters in which they were engaged; if ambassadors, we should observe
their intrigues and intelligences, and their ways of getting across what they
need to. And it is for this reason that I dwelt upon and pondered over a
certain passage at length which I may have normally passed over.
It was in a book written by
Monsieur de Langey, very well-versed in such things. He gave an account of a
fine speech by Charles V in Rome, in the presence of our French Ambassadors,
the Velly’s. The king mixed several insults into his speech, for instance, he
said that if his own captains and soldiers were so disloyal and irresolute, and
so badly trained in battle as those of the French king, he would have
surrendered straight away (it seemed the Emperor really believed this, because
he said the same thing at two of three other occasions). He also challenged the French king to a fight. The
Ambassador Velly sent a message to the King informing him of the affair, but
concealing the worst of it, particularly the stories I have just mentioned. I
can’t help but wonder at how an ambassador can dispense with anything that
he should be telling his master, especially something so important, coming from
the mouth of such a person, and spoken in the presence of so many people. I
would imagine it to be the servant’s duty to faithfully tell the king
everything that had been said, leaving it up to him what to do with that
information. The right to conceal or disguise the truth thinking the receiver
may take it in a way that he should not should belong to the giver of law, not
the receiver; to him who is in command, and not to him who should see himself
as inferior, not just in authority but also in wisdom and judgment. I, for my
part, would not have been blinded in this way by my own small concerns.
We so willingly take control
upon the smallest pretence, and are so ready to dominate when the opportunity
arises; everyone naturally aspires to liberty and to power. No quality derived
from the wisdom or bravery of am employee should be as cherished by a superior
than strict and sincere obedience. To obey from one’s own judgment instead of
from duty corrupts the office of command.
- P. Crassus sent a Greek
engineer to bring two ship-masts for him, to be used in the engine of a battery
that he wished to construct. The engineer decided to use his own scientific
knowledge and brought back something more appropriate to the design
Crassus envisioned. Crassus listened to his reasons with patience, but no
matter how convincing they sounded, he had the engineer punished, valuing
discipline more, at that moment, than the work at hand.
Nonetheless, it should be
noted that such a strict and precise obedience is due to positive and limited
commands. The job of ambassadors is not so confined. Many, in fact, are
expected to manage affairs of their own initiative. They do not just execute
instructions, they use their discretion and wisdom to conduct their work in the
best way. I have known some who have actually been chided for obeying the words
of the king too literally, and not considering the necessity of the situation
they were in. The kings of Persia are criticized sometimes for giving their
agents and lieutenants so little reign that if difficulties arise, they have to
refer back for further commands. This delay can really hamper their success. Was
Crassus, in the above example, by choosing a man whose profession it was to
understand the things he employed him to find, and by telling this man of the uses he wanted to put the ship-masts to, not consulting his advice? And in
a way, did he not actually invite him to interpose his better judgment?
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