All size, all strength, all power is relative. A state is well advised, in seeking to increase its real size, not to diminish its relative size.

Towards the middle of Louis XIV’s reign, France was at the pinnacle of her relative size. Germany did not yet have the great monarchs which she has had since. The same was true of Italy. Scotland and England did not form monarchical body. [1] Aragon did not form one with Castille [2] ; the separate parts of Spain were weakened by it, and weakened it ; Muscovy was no better known in Europe than was Crimea.