Punished Enough

During the French revolution Voltaire was living in exile in London where anti-French sentiment was high. One day, walking through Mayfair, he was surrounded by an angry mob. „He’s a Frenchman,“ someone shouted. The crowd yelled: „Hang him! Hang the bastard!“ Voltaire stayed calm. He addressed the mob with the following words: „Men of England! You wish to kill me because I am a Frenchman. I’m asking you: Am I not punished enough in not being born an Englishman?“ The crowd had to digest that answer for a moment, then the same guy who had started the scene cried: „The man is right!“ The crowd cheered and escorted Voltaire safely back to his lodgings.