I realise what symbolic value Schiller has, Wilfried, but let's agree to differ on his writing, though I admit it may just be that my first impressions of his poetry prejudiced me against delving deeper. My affinity for Goethe is probably reinforced by the fact that I'm a civil servant (not that I've read anything by either of them in the last thirty-odd years, BTW).

But since war is now back in fashion, maybe you can help me with an OT question, otherwise I'll start a separate thread. Do you know what is the precise German wording of Clausewitz's famous dictum about war being the continuation of [diplomacy?] by other means? And have you any idea where in the book it occurs? I waded through several hundred pages of a translation a few years ago without finding it (OK, maybe I slept through the bit where it came up...). I have a strong suspicion that he was grossly misrepresented on account of it in Britain, and would like to read it in context.