Sri Aurobindo
The Harmony of Virtue
Early Cultural Writings 1890-1910
Conversations of the Dead
Mazzini Cavour Garibaldi1
The state of Italy now is the proof that my teaching was needed. Machiavellianism rose again in the policy of Cavour, and Italy, grasping too eagerly at the speedy fruit of her efforts, fell from the clearness of the revelation that I gave her. Therefore she suffers. We must work for the fruit, but there must not be such attachment to the fruit that to hasten it the true means is sacrificed, for that leads eventually to the sacrifice of the true end.
The state of Italy is the proof of the soundness of my policy. Mazzini, you speak still as the ideologist, the man of notions. The statesman recognises ideals, but he has nothing to do with notions. He strikes always at his main objective and is willing to sacrifice much in details.
What you say is true, but the sacrifice has been not of details but of the essential.
Italy is one, Italy is free.
The unity was my work.
I did not use Machiavellianism or rely on statecraft and kingcraft.
I did not buy liberty by mutilating my country.
But I called to the soul of the nation and the soul of the nation awoke and shook itself free of the great tyrants and the petty.
It was on the heroism and kingliness of the Italian soul, the resurrection in Florence and Rome and Naples of the ancient Roman, Etruscan and Sammite2 that Cavour should have relied, not on the false-hearted huckster of States and principalities, Louis Napoleon.
Italy is one, Italy is free, but in the body, not in the soul. Garibaldi, you gave united Italy to a man, not to the nation.
I gave it to the King and hero, Italy's representative. I do not yet think that I did ill. The nation said, He stands for me, and as a democrat I bowed to the voice of the nation.
It was the best-inspired action of your life. If there are problems unsolved, if there are parts of the body politic that are still ailing, that was to be expected. Only the dreamer demands a rapid convalescence from a disease so long and wasting. We did the work of the surgeon, that of the physician is being done quietly and without ostentation. There is a man in Italy, and he belongs to the house that was chosen.3
Italy has not fulfilled her mission; my heart is full of sorrow when I look upon her. She whom I would have educated to lead the world, is only an inferior Power leaning for support upon the selfish and unscrupulous Teuton. She who should have reorganised government and society into a fit mould for the ideas of an age of emancipation, is a laggard lingering in the steps of the Gaul and the Saxon. She who should have been the fountain of a new European culture, hardly figures among the leaders of humanity. The semi-Asiatic Muscovite is doing more for mankind than the heirs of the Roman.
The statesman must have patience and work quietly towards his goal, securing each step as he goes. When the economic ills of Italy have been removed and the Church no longer opposes progress, the ideal of Mazzini may be fulfilled. The brain and sword of Italy may yet lead and as of old refashion4 Europe.
It is not the diplomatist and the servant of the moment who can 
bring about that great consummation, but the heroic soul and the mighty brain that command Time and create opportunity.
I sought to cast Italy into a Roman mould.
I knew that a third revelation had to be made to Europe and that Italy was the chosen channel.
So I was told when I went down from this world of the ancients to be born again into humanity.
Twice has Italy given a new civilisation to Europe, the third time she shall give it.
The voice that speaks when we are sent does not lie.
No, but the fruit does not always come at once. There is sometimes a long probation, a slow agony of purification, and the thing destined seems a dream that has come to nothing. We have to work knowing that the fruit will come, not impatient, not embittered and disappointed by its postponement. It is possible we shall be called again to bring about the consummation. We have helped Italy always; once more we shall help her.
I know not, but the days grow long to me in the world of the Happy. When the call comes, I pray that it may be to conquer, not by diplomacy but by truth and ardent courage,
Not by bargaining but by the sword of the hero,
Not by kingcraft but by love for humanity and a noble wisdom.
I shall be content, so that Italy conquers.
When the sword that was struck out of her hand by the Abyssinian, is lifted again, I shall be there to lift it.
Circa 1910
Later edition of this work: The Complete Works of Sri Aurobindo.- Set in 37 volumes.- Volume 1.- Early Cultural Writings (1890 1910).- Pondicherry: Sri Aurobindo Ashram, 2003.- 784 p.
1 First published in The Standard Bearer, 7 November 1920
2 2003 ed.: Samnite
3 This sentence was absent in this edition and was taken from the edition of 2003 year.
4 2003 ed.: rule