"Terry Goodkind. Faith of the Fallen (англ.)" - читать интересную книгу автора

the shadow of the Order but far fewer people will die. Only in that way
will we ever stand a chance."

"By losing? You want to lose first, and then fight? . . . How can
we even consider abandoning the fight for freedom?"

"Anderith helped teach me a lesson," he said. His voice was
restrained, as if he regretted what he was saying. "I can't press this
war. Freedom requires effort if it is to be won and vigilance if it is to
be maintained. People just don't value freedom until it's taken away."

"But many do," Kahlan objected.

"There are always some, but most don't even understand it, nor do
they care to-the same as with magic. People mindlessly shrink from it,
too, without seeing the truth. The Order offers them a world without magic
and ready-made answers to everything. Servitude is simple. I thought that
I could convince people of the value of their own lives, and of liberty.
In Anderith they showed me just how foolish I had been."

"Anderith is just one place-"

"Anderith was not remarkable. Look at all the trouble we've had
elsewhere. We're having trouble even here, where I grew up." Richard began
tucking in his shirt. "Forcing people to fight for freedom is the worst
kind of contradiction.

"Nothing I can say will inspire people to care-I've tried. Those
who value liberty will have to run, to hide, to try to survive and endure
what is sure to come. I can't prevent it. I can't help them. I know that
now."

"But Richard, how can you even think of-"

'I must do what is best for us. I must be selfish; life is far too
precious to be casually squandered on useless causes. There can be no
greater evil than that. People can only be saved from the coming dark age
of subjugation and servitude if they, too, come to understand and care
about the value of their own lives, their freedom, and are willing to act
in their own interest. We must try to stay alive in the hope that such a
day will come."

"But we can prevail in this war. We must."

"Do you think that I can just go off and lead men into war, and
because I wish it, we will win? We won't. It takes more than my wishing
it. It will take vast numbers of people fully committed to the cause. We
don't have that. If we throw our forces against the Order, we will be
destroyed and any chance for winning freedom in the future will be forever
lost." He raked his fingers back through his hair. "We must not lead our