Literature
Les Bouches Inutiles
"Look at all the useless mouths," said the king to the court jester. "Useless mouths, sire?" the jester replied. "The hungry mouths of useless people!" the king responded. "Fond of themselves no doubt, and surely they are hungry. "But are they any good to me?" The jester only sighed. "The kingdom cannot feed them all, not now, and not tomorrow. "Someone has to say who lives and who shall die. "That task falls to me. I say, first feed the soldiers." "There will be nothing left for others, sire," said the jester. The king shrugged. The jester held his tongue. "Come, my friend, let us go out," the king said to the jester. "I'll walk among my people, and this will make them glad." "Your useless people, sire?" The king said, "Hush. "The people like to see that I can leave my throne." So they went out. A crowd drew near around them, then it drew back. Someone threw the first stone.