"Every man thinks meanly of himself for not having been a soldier, or not having been at sea," said Dr. Samuel Johnson in 1778.

"Were Socrates and Charles the Twelfth of Sweden both present in any company and Socrates to say, 'Follow me and hear a lecture on philosophy'

And Charles, laying his hand on his sword, to say 'Follow me and dethrone the Czar'

A man would be ashamed to follow Socrates. . . . The profession of soldiers and sailors has the dignity of danger. Mankind reverence those who have got over fear, which is so general a weakness."