The Ultimate Answer to Kings: Sadly True

They say that Louis XIV had the inscription Ultima Ratio Regum cast into all the cannon of the French Army. It means "The Ultimate Argument of Kings," and that always struck me as one of the most honest and up-front things any ruler or would-be ruler ever said. "We can dress it up prettier than this, but when it comes down to the unvarnished truth this is what it's about: You'll do as I say or I'll send my goons to kill you."

I thought about that for a long time. If there's an ultimate argument, it seems only logical that there must be an ultimate answer. For years I thought the ultimate answer must be the bullets in my rifle, but it never seemed quite right. I've got bullets - he's got frigging Cannon Balls. I mean, if there were three hundred million rifles throwing bullets at him, then maybe. But we all know that's not going to happen. So if there's an ultimate answer to his ultimate argument, it sure as hell ain't bullets.

It finally came to me - and that's when I left the city, abandoned a goodly percentage of my goods, and gave all that was behind me a good, stiff Randian Shrug.

The ultimate answer to kings is not a bullet, but a belly laugh.

Saturday, January 30, 2010

Sadly True

3 comments:

The Grey Lady said...: Totally off topic, but...

Joel did you ever get a replacement for your ailing breadmaker?; January 30, 2010 at 6:04 PM
Joel said...: Wow, that is off-topic.

Yes I did. Several months ago, at a local thrift store.

Thrift stores turn out to be great places to buy breadmakers.; January 30, 2010 at 7:00 PM
The Grey Lady said...: Sorry I just did an ode to my breadmaker and it triggered a memory that yours was not rising your bread correctly.

Yes thrift stores are a great place, I always forget to go to thrift stores, I really don't live close to one so it takes a "plan" to go to one. Most folks have no clue what they are getting rid of, don't make time to incorperate them into their routine. Oh well their loss is a frugal's gain.; January 31, 2010 at 5:30 AM

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Saturday, January 30, 2010

Sadly True

3 comments:

Why the hell did you scroll all the way down here?