The assassination attempt on Paolo Sarpi unfolded on a seemingly normal day in Venice when, exiting the church of San Moisè, he was ambushed by men hired to kill him. Sarpi, a deeply respected theologian and an intellectual figure of the Venetian Republic, had become increasingly influential in the early 17th century, advocating for civil liberties, scientific inquiry, and the separation of church and state. His ideas posed a direct challenge to established Catholic authority, particularly during a time when the Counter-Reformation was creating a backlash against reformist thinkers. Given the volatile atmosphere of the period, it was not surprising that elements within the Church would resort to violence to silence a voice they deemed dangerous.The attackers, reportedly backed by powerful interests within the Church who opposed Sarpi’s progressive outlook, aimed to eliminate him for good. However, not only did Sarpi manage to fend off his attackers, but he also continued his work, remaining a prominent figure in Venetian politics and religious thought. His survival lit a metaphorical spark of resistance against oppressive forces—both secular and ecclesiastical—illustrating an increasingly resilient conflict between burgeoning ideas of modernity and entrenched traditionalism in Europe. This incident underscored the perils that reformers faced and set a precedent for the broader struggle between progressive thought and authoritarian control throughout the history of Western Europe.Sarpi's later writings would reflect on the nature of power and ecclesiastical authority, solidifying his role as a central figure in the intellectual movements that characterized the Renaissance and early Enlightenment. His works not only influenced contemporaries but also laid the groundwork for subsequent generations of thinkers who would challenge ecclesiastical supremacy and assert the importance of reason and scientific inquiry in the European cultural landscape.