“Dans ce pays-ci, il est bon de tuer de temps en temps un amiral pour encourager les autres”

“In this country, it’s good to kill an admiral from time to time to encourage the others.”

Voltaire’s commentary on the execution of Admiral Byng.

Candide

Frontispiece of the 1759 edition of Candide

If you haven’t read this book – in English, French, or whatever your language of preference happens to be – you’re missing out.