Woes and leaps forward can be intertwined. Peter the Great deliberately sent many workers (not to mention soldiers) to certain deaths to build St. Petersburg and fleet to win over Charles XII of Sweden. Nor was he ever hypocritical about it—he was strict enough to witness executions and not care. But in the end Peter’s actions do seem like a leap forward. No hypocrisy, no stupidity, but huge woes.
Woes and leaps forward can be intertwined. Peter the Great deliberately sent many workers (not to mention soldiers) to certain deaths to build St. Petersburg and fleet to win over Charles XII of Sweden. Nor was he ever hypocritical about it—he was strict enough to witness executions and not care. But in the end Peter’s actions do seem like a leap forward. No hypocrisy, no stupidity, but huge woes.