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Sunday, September 26, 2004Thoughtful reading while in bed, with a terrible cold Sometimes the cowardice of the emperors, often the weakness of the empire, made that they sought to appease with money the people which threatened to invade. But peace cannot be bought, because the one who sells it is in the position to force us to buy it again. It is better to take the risk of an unhappy war than to give money to have peace; because a prince is always respected when it is known that he will not be defeated without a long resistance. Montesquieu, Rise and fall of the Romans  Quelquefois la lâcheté des empereurs, souvent la faiblesse de l’empire, firent que l’on chercha à apaiser par de l’argent les peuples qui menaçaient d’envahir. Mais la paix ne peut pas s’acheter, parce que celui qui l’a vendue n’en est que plus en état de la faire acheter encore. Il vaut mieux courir le risque d’une guerre malheureuse que de donner de l’argent pour avoir la paix ; car on respecte toujours un prince lorsqu’on sait qu’on ne le vaincra qu’après une longue résistance. Montesquieu, Grandeur et décadence des romains.  A veces la cobardía de los emperadores, a menudo la debilidad del imperio, hacían que se intentaba apaciguar con dinero a los pueblos que amenazaban con invadir. Pero la paz no puede comprarse, porque el que la vende queda en posición de obligarnos a volver a comprársela. Vale más correr el riesgo de una guerra desgraciada que dar dinero para tener paz; pues se respeta siempre al príncipe que se sabe no se puede ser vencido sin una larga resistencia. Montesquieu, Grandeza y decadencia de los romanos  UPDATE -----------------> Barcepundit has an interesting post that is worth reading after this citation... UPDATE -----------------> myth·o·ma·ni·a: A compulsion to embroider the truth, engage in exaggeration, or tell lies. Don't miss Barcepundit's last post about the self-styled Spanish minister of Foreign Affairs who said on Friday he had demanded an explanation from the White House over President George W. Bush's comment that the withdrawal of Spanish troops from Iraq had emboldened terrorists. A good laugh will cheer you out of your cold.
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