" It's true,' said the doctor. "I know you have not thought about it. Italians always act without thinking, it's the glory and the downfall of your civilisation. A German plans a month in advance what his bowel movements will be at Easter, and the British plan everything in retrospect, so it always looks as though everything occurred ass they intended. The French plan everything whilst appearing to be having a party, and the Spanish . . . well, god knows. Anyway, Pelagia is Greek, that's my point. So can it work? "

― Louis de Bernières , Corelli's Mandolin