History is neither written nor made without love or hate.
An independent state does not pay too dear a price for its independence in accepting the sufferings of war when it cannot avoid them; a state which has lost its independence may find at least some compensation in the fact that its protector procures for it peace with its neighbours.
Interpretation
What this quote means
Independence often comes with hardship, while losing it may offer some peace through protection.
This quote emphasizes the concept that true independence often entails sacrifices and struggles, particularly in the context of war. It suggests that while a free state may endure the pains of conflict for its autonomy, a state that has relinquished its independence might experience a semblance of peace, albeit at the cost of its freedom, through the support of a more powerful protector. This dichotomy raises deep questions about the value and cost of sovereignty versus the safety that can come from alliances or protection.
Themes
In practice
Example use cases
A speech on the importance of national sovereignty during a ceremony.
More from Theodor Mommsen
All quotes →The history of Rome presents various men of greater genius than Scipio Aemilianus, but none equalling him in moral purity, in the utter absence of political selfishness, in generous love of his country, and none, perhaps, to whom destiny has assigned a more tragic part.
History has a Nemesis for every sin.
Similar quotes
We can bear to be deprived of everything but our self-conceit.
A finite game is played for the purpose of winning, an infinite game for the purpose of continuing the play.
[Whenever] you get near the human race, there's layers and layers of nonsense.
It feels like we're always juggling many pieces of information at once or trying out many personas at once. It makes life slightly nonlinear.
Then he [The Star Child] waited, marshaling his thoughts and brooding over his still untested powers. For though he was master of the world, he was not quite sure what to do next. But he would think of something.
All the arguments to prove man's superiority cannot shatter this hard fact: in suffering, the animals are our equals.