Original Text(~250 words)
CHAPTER VIII Napoleon enters Moscow after the brilliant victory de la Moskowa; there can be no doubt about the victory for the battlefield remains in the hands of the French. The Russians retreat and abandon their ancient capital. Moscow, abounding in provisions, arms, munitions, and incalculable wealth, is in Napoleon’s hands. The Russian army, only half the strength of the French, does not make a single attempt to attack for a whole month. Napoleon’s position is most brilliant. He can either fall on the Russian army with double its strength and destroy it; negotiate an advantageous peace, or in case of a refusal make a menacing move on Petersburg, or even, in the case of a reverse, return to Smolénsk or Vílna; or remain in Moscow; in short, no special genius would seem to be required to retain the brilliant position the French held at that time. For that, only very simple and easy steps were necessary: not to allow the troops to loot, to prepare winter clothing—of which there was sufficient in Moscow for the whole army—and methodically to collect the provisions, of which (according to the French historians) there were enough in Moscow to supply the whole army for six months. Yet Napoleon, that greatest of all geniuses, who the historians declare had control of the army, took none of these steps. He not merely did nothing of the kind, but on the contrary he used his power to select the most foolish and ruinous of all the...
Continue reading the full chapter
Purchase the complete book to access all chapters and support classic literature
As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission from qualifying purchases at no additional cost to you.
Available in paperback, hardcover, and e-book formats
Summary
Napoleon stands at the peak of his power, having conquered Moscow with overwhelming military advantages. He has every strategic option available: he could destroy the weakened Russian army, negotiate peace from strength, advance on St. Petersburg, or simply wait out winter in the well-supplied city. Instead, he makes the worst possible choices—letting his troops loot Moscow, hesitating about leaving a garrison, and eventually retreating along the same devastated route he came by. Tolstoy presents this as a puzzle: how could history's greatest military genius make such obviously stupid decisions? The answer isn't that Napoleon suddenly became incompetent or lost his abilities. His mind remained as sharp and active as ever, issuing orders and managing multiple concerns from army welfare to diplomatic considerations. Rather, Tolstoy suggests that individual genius—no matter how brilliant—has limits when it collides with larger historical forces. Napoleon's personal talents, which had carried him to victory across Europe, simply weren't enough to overcome the unique circumstances he faced in Russia. This chapter challenges our tendency to credit success entirely to individual brilliance and failure to personal incompetence. Sometimes the situation is bigger than any one person's abilities, no matter how exceptional they might be.
That's what happens. To understand what the author is really doing—and to discuss this chapter with confidence—keep reading.
Terms to Know
Strategic advantage
Having all the cards in your favor - better position, more resources, more options than your opponent. Napoleon had every possible military advantage after taking Moscow.
Modern Usage:
Like having multiple job offers when negotiating salary, or being the only qualified candidate for a promotion.
Historical forces
Large-scale circumstances and trends that shape events beyond any individual's control. Think economic crashes, cultural shifts, or natural disasters that affect everyone.
Modern Usage:
The way automation eliminates jobs regardless of how hard individual workers try, or how the pandemic changed everyone's plans.
Genius paradox
When extremely talented people fail not because they lost their abilities, but because their situation exceeded what any individual could handle. Their skills remain intact but become insufficient.
Modern Usage:
Like a brilliant doctor who can't save a patient because the disease is too advanced, or a great manager whose company fails due to market collapse.
Looting
Soldiers stealing and destroying property instead of maintaining discipline. Napoleon let his troops ransack Moscow instead of preserving supplies they'd need for winter.
Modern Usage:
When employees slack off and waste resources because management isn't enforcing standards.
Winter provisions
Food, clothing, and supplies needed to survive harsh conditions. Moscow had everything Napoleon's army needed, but he failed to organize proper collection and storage.
Modern Usage:
Like having money in the bank but not budgeting properly for upcoming expenses.
Retreat route
The path taken when withdrawing from a position. Napoleon chose to return the same way he came, through already devastated territory with no supplies.
Modern Usage:
Like taking the same broken approach to fix a relationship problem instead of trying a new strategy.
Characters in This Chapter
Napoleon
Tragic protagonist
At the height of his power but making catastrophic decisions. Despite having every advantage, he allows his army to loot Moscow and fails to prepare for winter or secure his position.
Modern Equivalent:
The successful CEO who gets overconfident and makes terrible decisions that destroy the company
Why This Matters
Connect literature to life
This chapter teaches how to identify when your greatest strengths have become your biggest obstacles to growth.
Practice This Today
This week, notice when you're applying old solutions to new problems—ask yourself 'What got me here won't get me there, so what needs to change?'
You have the foundation. Now let's look closer.
Key Quotes & Analysis
"Napoleon's position is most brilliant. He can either fall on the Russian army with double its strength and destroy it; negotiate an advantageous peace, or in case of a refusal make a menacing move on Petersburg"
Context: Tolstoy listing all of Napoleon's strategic options after conquering Moscow
This shows how completely Napoleon dominated the situation - he had multiple winning moves available. The tragedy is that he chose none of them, making his later failure even more puzzling.
In Today's Words:
He held all the cards and could have won in several different ways.
"Yet Napoleon, that greatest of all geniuses, who the historians declare had control of the army, took none of these steps"
Context: After describing all the obvious smart moves Napoleon could have made
Tolstoy's central puzzle - how could someone so brilliant make such obviously bad choices? This sets up his argument that individual genius has limits when facing overwhelming circumstances.
In Today's Words:
But this guy everyone calls a genius did exactly the opposite of what made sense.
"For that, only very simple and easy steps were necessary: not to allow the troops to loot, to prepare winter clothing"
Context: Explaining what Napoleon should have done to maintain his position
Tolstoy emphasizes how basic and obvious the right moves were - this wasn't rocket science. Napoleon's failure becomes more mysterious because the solutions were so simple.
In Today's Words:
All he had to do was follow basic common sense - stop the stealing and get ready for winter.
Intelligence Amplifier™ Analysis
The Genius Trap - When Your Strengths Become Your Weakness
When the very strengths that brought success become the weaknesses that cause failure because circumstances have changed but methods haven't adapted.
Thematic Threads
Power
In This Chapter
Napoleon's absolute power gives him every strategic option but also isolates him from feedback that might prevent his worst decisions
Development
Throughout the book, characters with power consistently make choices that seem obviously wrong to observers
In Your Life:
You might recognize this when you're the boss, parent, or expert whose authority prevents others from telling you hard truths.
Identity
In This Chapter
Napoleon's identity as military genius prevents him from adapting strategies that would contradict his self-image
Development
Characters repeatedly struggle when their circumstances demand behaviors that conflict with how they see themselves
In Your Life:
This shows up when your professional identity or family role keeps you stuck in patterns that no longer serve you.
Control
In This Chapter
Napoleon believes his personal will and genius can overcome any obstacle, but some forces are simply beyond individual control
Development
The tension between personal agency and larger forces has been building throughout the novel
In Your Life:
You see this when you keep trying to control outcomes through sheer effort instead of adapting to what's actually possible.
Expectations
In This Chapter
Everyone expects Napoleon to make brilliant decisions because he always has, creating pressure that may actually impair his judgment
Development
Social expectations have consistently trapped characters throughout the story
In Your Life:
This appears when others' expectations of your competence prevent you from admitting uncertainty or asking for help.
Modern Adaptation
When Success Becomes Your Prison
Following Andrew's story...
Andrew sold his app for millions and thought he'd finally made it. Everyone tells him he's living the dream—financial freedom, respect, options everywhere he looks. He could invest in real estate, start another company, travel the world, or just enjoy early retirement. Instead, he finds himself paralyzed by the very success he worked so hard to achieve. He spends days scrolling social media, starts projects he never finishes, and feels increasingly disconnected from the purpose that once drove him. The tools that built his success—relentless focus, competitive drive, seeing everything as a problem to solve—now feel hollow when applied to finding meaning. He has all the resources in the world but can't figure out what he actually wants. His sharp mind that once navigated complex code now runs in circles, analyzing his emptiness instead of addressing it. The very abilities that brought him wealth have become obstacles to finding fulfillment.
The Road
The road Napoleon walked in 1812, Andrew walks today. The pattern is identical: the strengths that create success can become the weaknesses that destroy satisfaction when circumstances fundamentally change.
The Map
This chapter provides a navigation tool for recognizing when your proven methods have become your prison. Andrew can use it to identify when he's applying old solutions to new problems.
Amplification
Before reading this, Andrew might have doubled down on familiar strategies, assuming more of the same would eventually work. Now he can NAME the success trap, PREDICT where it leads, and NAVIGATE toward approaches that fit his current reality instead of his past victories.
You now have the context. Time to form your own thoughts.
Discussion Questions
- 1
Napoleon had every advantage in Moscow - superior forces, a conquered city, multiple strategic options. What specific choices did he make that led to disaster?
analysis • surface - 2
Why couldn't Napoleon's proven military genius solve the problems he faced in Russia? What was different about this situation?
analysis • medium - 3
Think about someone you know who was successful in one area but struggled when circumstances changed. What patterns do you see between their situation and Napoleon's?
application • medium - 4
When have you experienced success in one situation that actually hurt you in a different context? How did you recognize what needed to change?
application • deep - 5
What does Napoleon's story reveal about the relationship between individual talent and circumstances beyond our control?
reflection • deep
Critical Thinking Exercise
Success Trap Assessment
Identify one area where you've been successful using specific methods or approaches. Now think about a current challenge you're facing. Write down your usual methods, then honestly assess whether those same approaches might be holding you back in this new situation. What would you need to do differently?
Consider:
- •Success can create blind spots - we stop questioning what works
- •The same strength in different circumstances can become a weakness
- •Recognizing when to adapt is often harder than the actual change itself
Journaling Prompt
Write about a time when something that made you successful in the past became an obstacle. How did you realize you needed to change your approach, and what did you learn about flexibility?
Coming Up Next...
Chapter 288: Napoleon's Grand Illusion of Control
What lies ahead teaches us people in power create elaborate systems to mask fundamental problems, and shows us good intentions without understanding local reality often backfire. These patterns appear in literature and life alike.