Evalyth claims the right to kill her husband's murderer. The articles of the expedition guarantee respect for the mores of every member. She is a Krakener.
However, her husband's fellow Atheian, Chena Barnard, the cultural anthropologist, says that he used to quote an ancient proverb. (See image.) I was unfamiliar with this proverb, have only just thought to google it and am surprised to learn its source.
It is impossible to read Poul Anderson without learning. I have finished learning for this evening but am happy to end the day with this quotation, which is also Nicholas van Rijn's way of doing business.
2 comments:
Alternatively, there’s the Mafia chieftain who, urged to forgive his enemies on his deathbed, told the priest hearing his confession:
“I have no enemies, Father. I killed them all.”
I will absolutely guarantee you that none of them changed their mind about not being enemies...
As Machiavelli observed in his chapter “On Wether it is Better to be Loved or Feared”, you cannot make people love you and you cannot make them continue to do so — and human beings are fickle.
But you -can- compelling them to -fear- you.
Kaor, Mr. Stirling!
But to rule by fear and terror alone seems a high stress, high pressure means of governing. Isn't it better for your rule to be accepted and believed to be LEGITIMATE? Then the government, under whatever form, won't have to be so harsh.
I recall a story about Napoleon and another man who might have been Talleyrand. Napoleon was boasting about the power and might of his army, that with his soldiers bayonets he could do anything. Talleyrand asked dryly: "But can you sit on those bayonets, sire?" Which I interpreted as meaning there were LIMITS to what you could do with force and fear.
Ad astra! Sean
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