Historical Characters, Including Frederick the Great, Discussion Post 45

[cahn]

Unfortunately, there was then at Berlin a King who pursued one policy only, who deceived his enemies, but not his servants, and who lied without scruple, but never without necessity.

(from The King's Secret - by Duke de Broglie, grand-nephew of the subject of the book, Comte de Broglie, and grandfather of the physicist) )

Comments

Re: Henri according to a Scot

[mildred_of_midgard]

"Shrill-Minded": say what? Because he's Fritz critical?

I assume so, yes, admittedly without having read Carlyle all the way through. (Unfortunately, I cannot handle 6 volumes of that writing style. It's like seasoning: only good in small doses.)

That's interesting, because that was indeed my father's first interpretation of the famous "the only general who didn't commit a fault in the 7 Years war" quote, i.e., that it's only a compliment on the surface but actually a put down, i.e. Heinrich is cautious and avarage, Fritz is brilliant and erratic. I'm not so sure.

It could be "I'm still better, but well done," i.e. a sincere compliment of limited force. I mean, Fritz *did* think the big pitched battle was the only way to win a war, so while he might be impressed that Heinrich never gave Fritz the opportunity to scapegoat him, Fritz might also be implicitly reserving the final, highest praise for himself.

He is dark-complexioned

That's the only bit of physical description actually new to me

Yeah, same, and I too was surprised. All those sleigh rides, I guess!

Finally: LOL again at the parrot.

Re: Henri according to a Scot

[cahn]

It could be "I'm still better, but well done," i.e. a sincere compliment of limited force.

Heh, as an older sibling, I'm... gonna say I could totally see how it could be this one :P