"We
were supposed to have reached a stage of civilization in which it might
still be necessary to execute a criminal, but not to gloat, or to hang
his wife and child by him while the orc-crowd hooted. The destruction of
Germany, be it 100 times merited, is one of the most appalling
world-catastrophes. Well, well,—you and I can do nothing about it. And
that [should] be a measure of the amount of guilt that can justly be
assumed to attach to any member of a country who is not a member of its
actual Government."
– J. R. R. Tolkien
