Summary
This quote suggests that even though a king may appear powerful and dominant in the present, they are ultimately bound by the weight of history. Regardless of all the privileges and authority they possess, a king's actions and decisions are contingent on the lessons and consequences of the past. They are compelled to abide by the lessons of previous monarchs, the expectations and traditions of their kingdom, and the inevitability of the historical context in which they govern. In this sense, a king is subordinate to the forces and determinants of history, making them, in essence, a slave to the narrative of the past.
Topics
History
By Leo Tolstoy
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