Война и мир

Chapter 28

           Tothequestionofwhatcauseshistoriceventsanotheranswerpresentsitself,namely,thatthecourseofhumaneventsispredeterminedfromonhigh—dependsonthecoincidenceofthewillsofallwhotakepartintheevents,andthataNapoleon’sinfluenceonthecourseoftheseeventsispurelyexternalandfictitious.

           StrangeasatfirstglanceitmayseemtosupposethattheMassacreofSt.BartholomewwasnotduetoCharlesIX’swill,thoughhegavetheorderforitandthoughtitwasdoneasaresultofthatorder;andstrangeasitmayseemtosupposethattheslaughterofeightythousandmenatBorodinówasnotduetoNapoleon’swill,thoughheorderedthecommencementandconductofthebattleandthoughtitwasdonebecauseheorderedit;strangeasthesesuppositionsappear,yethumandignity—whichtellsmethateachofusis,ifnotmoreatleastnotlessamanthanthegreatNapoleon—demandstheacceptanceofthatsolutionofthequestion,andhistoricinvestigationabundantlyconfirmsit.

           AtthebattleofBorodinóNapoleonshotatnooneandkillednoone.Thatwasalldonebythesoldiers.Thereforeitwasnothewhokilledpeople.

           TheFrenchsoldierswenttokillandbekilledatthebattleofBorodinónotbecauseofNapoleon’sordersbutbytheirownvolition.Thewholearmy—French,Italian,German,Polish,andDutch—hungry,ragged,andwearyofthecampaign,feltatthesightofanarmyblockingtheirroadtoMoscowthatthewinewasdrawnandmustbedrunk.

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