Prince Andrew after returning to Moscow to find Natalie broke their engagement seeks out Kutuzov to be admitted back to the army. He has been summoned to meet the Emperor but while waiting he meets Pfuel, a German theorist of war, and this is how he describes him and others
[]Pfuel was one of those hopelessly and immutably self- confident man, self- confident to the point of martyrdom as only Germans are, because only Germans are self confident on the basis of an abstract notion- science, that is, the supposed knowledge of absolute truth. A Frenchman is self assured because he regards himself personally, both in mind and body, as irresistibly attractive to men and women. An Englishman is self assured, as being a citizen of the best-organised state in the world, and therefore as an Englishman always knows what he should do and knows that all he does as an Englishman is undoubtedly correct. An Italian is self-assured because he is excitable and easily forgets himself and other people. A Russian is self-assured just because he knows nothing does not want to know anything, since he does not believe that anything can be known. The German’s self-assurance is worst of all, stronger and more repulsive than any other, because he imagines that he knows the truth- science- which he himself has invented but which is for him the absolute truth.
I believe most, if not all of you, dear readers may disagree with Prince Andrew’s assessment.
Germans are self confident cause they make damn good beer. $Amen$
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And beer is evidence god loves humanity
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That and pizza. How are you, my friend?
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I am doing great my friend still reading War and Peace
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Yes. I figured that. Excellent book, eh? But LONG. Lots of food for thought in it.
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And how are you fine friend.
This guy should have written a shorter book
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I’m well. Took me almost a year to read War and Peace. Don’t think I could do it these days.
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If it took you a year, I will not feel bad for myself. Think this is my second or third month and I am halfway!
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You’re a trooper.
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“An Italian is self-assured because he is excitable and easily forgets himself and other people.”
I resemble that remark.
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Interesting
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Just kidding, mak.
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Sorry, but the the description of the Russians sounds more like the rednecks good ole boys I have had the misfortune to meet while in the South of the US of A!
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You mean the group who believe all they need to know is in Genesis 1?
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Yeah, that one.
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emmy: they are EVERYWHERE, not just in the South. And this characteristic is true even of supposedly educated professionals.
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Just some amusing “definitions”:
Heaven is where
The police are English;
The pizzeros, Italian;
The mechanics, German;
The lovers, French;
And everything is organized by the Swiss
Hell is where
The pizzeros are English;
The mechanics, French;
The lovers, Swiss;
The police, German;
And everything is organized by the Italian.
🙂
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Hahaha
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