it is impossible to explain the facts of history without introducing the conceptions of chance and genius .
If the aim of the European wars at the beginning of the nineteenth century had been the aggrandizement of Russia, that aim might have been accomplished without all the preceding wars and without the invasion.
If the aim was the aggrandizement of France, that might have been attained without the Revolution and without the Empire.
If the aim was the dissemination of ideas, the printing press could have accomplished that much better than warfare.
If the aim was the progress of civilization, it is easy to see that there are other ways of diffusing civilization more expedient than by the destruction of wealth and of human lives.
Why did it happen in this and not in some other way?
Because it happened so! > “ Chance created the