Prussians

The Prussian has spoken of justice. When he speaks of justice he has begun to hope for mercy. For more than a hundred years he has spread and sunned himself in the summer of mere success; he has openly exulted in his freedom from scruple and religious restraint; he has pointed to his perjuries as other men point to their promises. He has never dreamed of answering the charge that he was false and cruel save by saying that he is cunning and strong. He has never pretended to recognise any law, human or divine, save in the sense that possession was nine points of it. When he begins to defend himself on the tenth point, it is proof that he has little left but a tenth. When the Prussian says he has the right to do a thing, you may be pretty sure he has no longer the might to do it. xxx 267