"On the 28th of October 1940 Greece was given a deadline of three hours to decide on war or peace. But even if a three day or three week or three year deadline was given, the response would have been the same. The Greeks have taught dignity throughout the centuries. When the entire world had lost all hope, the Greek people dared to question the invincibility of the Germans, raising against it the proud spirit of freedom." Franklin Delano Roosevelt "If the Russian people managed to halt and reverse the German torrent at the doors of Moscow, they owe it to the Greek people, who delayed the German divisions long enough so that they could not bring us down to our knees." General Georgy Constantinovich Zhoukov
"On the 28th of October 1940 Greece was given a deadline of three hours to decide on war or peace. But even if a three day or three week or three year deadline was given, the response would have been the same.
The Greeks have taught dignity throughout the centuries. When the entire world had lost all hope, the Greek people dared to question the invincibility of the Germans, raising against it the proud spirit of freedom."
Franklin Delano Roosevelt
"If the Russian people managed to halt and reverse the German torrent at the doors of Moscow, they owe it to the Greek people, who delayed the German divisions long enough so that they could not bring us down to our knees."
General Georgy Constantinovich Zhoukov
"Until now we used to say that the Greeks fight like heroes. Now we shall say, that heroes fight like Greeks." Winston Churchill
"Until now we used to say that the Greeks fight like heroes. Now we shall say, that heroes fight like Greeks."
Winston Churchill
When the great Persian King demanded the surrender of the weapons from the Greeks at the Battle of Thermopylae, King Leonidas I of Sparta responded drily, molṑn labé (μολὼν λαβέ), meaning, having come, take them.
And although most have forgotten, when the whole world was falling into despair, the Greek people dared to defy the seemingly invincible Wehrmacht, and raised the hopes of all nations who yearned to remain free. Greece in the Second World War.
This incalculable principle of the resilience of the human spirit may find some application in any number of situations we see today in our modern world, as it has done so frequently in the past.
The Greeks may stand, and bravely fall again, and the cynics may say, 'see we were right after all. We told you so. It is foolish to resist.' Or it may be some other people, at some other place. But it will happen.
And at least they will have lived, and stood free, and upheld their legacy for a time when they could raise a hand. And this is something those groveling at the feet of power, making snide remarks, quietly and unheard to themselves, hoping that they will be left for last, may never be able to say.
And this is what frightens the petty despot and the tyrant, and makes a chill run through their heart. They never know when the people will finally have the will to stand and say, 'enough.'
And so, in retrospect, no matter how powerful, they always seem to finally go too far, into some needless excess of power, some abuse of propriety, some excessive assertion of vain invincibility, and set into motion their own terrible decline and downfall. Think of it. Always.
Have a pleasant evening.
