Generosity and gratitude are the true qualities of kings, whereas greed and<hr>
ingratitude are flaws they should never succumb to. It is the kings who distribute blessings and rewards, and what is avarice in a subject's soul should be ambition in a sovereign's.<hr>
       Yes, Theodat, a king can be ambitious and charitable without being dishonored. But he cannot ever be greedy or ungrateful without being despised by his subjects and being detested by posterity.<hr>
Your books have undoubtedly taught you what I say, but as for me, only experience has taught me this. But you notice that it is far easier to make a beautiful speech than a beautiful action. The path of wisdom is easy when you have altruistic sentiments. On the contrary, wisdom brings its own reward, and the satisfaction of doing good is the most pleasing price. But what makes it difficult for you to walk this path is that you are in conflict with your own desires. You can only be just by fighting against yourself, you can only be grateful by betraying your feelings, you can only be generous by tearing your heart. In reality, you can only follow the path of wisdom by declaring war on yourself.<hr>
However, Theodat, now you know that you only have one enemy to conquer, undertake this struggle, and rest assured that it will bring you glory. There is no need to besiege a city, to fight a battle, to endure the inconvenience of the journey, to spend the treasures that you love so much to raise armies, to risk your life on this occasion, to embark on the search for your enemy in a distant country, to disturb this deep rest that is your comfort.<hr>
For, in the end, you will find in yourself, without even leaving your cabinet, both your adversary and your ally. If you manage to overcome your instincts and firmly choose the fairest side, you will have barely undertaken the decision to conquer when you will already be victorious. In other words, as soon as you decide to abandon absurdity and embrace wisdom, you will become wise. You might tell me that this internal struggle that takes place in the absence of any other witness but yourself will not be glorious because it will not be known.<hr>
However, Theodat, wisdom cannot be concealed. As soon as you rally to it, the whole world will know. You will no longer seek to accumulate treasures, except to enrich your subjects; you will get into debt to reward those who have done you service; you will rule over your people with fairness and clemency; you will be venerated by all the neighboring princes; you will no longer banish me; and your name will cross the coming centuries with honor. Behold, Theodat, the fruit that you can harvest from a victory that does not depend on the whim of fate or the strength of weapons, but is entirely in your hands. I leave you the freedom to attack and overcome this enemy that I have crowned. I withdraw and yield you all the credit for this combat.<hr>
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                                        Effect of this Speech<hr>
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                                                    75<hr>