The study of history is unpleasant because it forces us to look at the whole man, in all his manifestations. As a result, it shows us not what we would like, but what has been, and we have to contend with the infinite cruelties attached to practically every “great deed”. The more we investigate, the shorter our list of admirers becomes, to the point where we begin to question whether it is really possible to know and admire someone at the same time.