Those who were most powerful, having the support of friends or servants,
expanded their might by means of threats or gifts, bread or offices, and
so began very early to praise as heroic the service rendered by the
masses whom they needed in their struggle with alien rivals and to
glorify the sacrifice of other lives made in defense of their power. A
man will risk all the advantages he possesses for the sake of money or
property but he gambles with his life only when impelled by a romantic
dream, that promises immaterial goodsâhonor and love. He wishes to
possess this woman, he would like to surpass that man, and therefore he
throws his life into the balance. The hope of shining before thousands
as the most courageous or being borne in triumph, the victor's fillet
about his brow, through acclaiming multitudes, of returning home amidst
splendid festivitiesâsuch a vision rises triumphant over his fear of
death, for an immortal life is apparently offered only to those who
hazard their mortal years on the throw of the dice. It was, and still
is even today, easy for clever kings or tribunes to induce men to
surrender their lives by offering them visions of the victor's crown. It
is easy to discover a few ideals. They are called nation, honor, or
fatherland. What do these conceptions mean to us today?
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用户615157
Material goods such as position and possession can not entice a man to embrace his death, but intangible, romantic and lofty ideals suffice for a man's to throw his mortal years to a dice. What are these intangible, romantic and lofty ideals? Love, honor, fatherland, fame for eternity, rememberance for eternity. Powerful men want glory, honor and a position in history. They need the masses to sacrifice their lives in defence of their honor. How can a man be persuaded to render this kind of service unless he's convinced that the service he will render is a heroic one?
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