QuotesCosmos
All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 8. The Short Colonial Careers of Jules Greindl, Eugène père Beyens, Eugène Napoléon Beyens and Maximilien Strauch, Maximilien Strauch (1829-1911) ROEYKENS, A. Les débuts de l'oeuvre africaine de Léopold II, o.c., 414-415. Roeykens, who never hesitated to applaud Leopold II for his colonial «genius», felt uncomfortable quoting and paraphrasing this letter. Roeykens consequently questioned Wauters' objectivity, critical spirit and serenity in harsh terms.
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The King was very ignorant… he lacked education. ... He was ignorant of geography, the teachings of history and the science of international law

— All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 8. The Short Colonial Careers of Jules Greindl, Eugène père Beyens, Eugène Napoléon Beyens and Maximilien Strauch, Maximilien Strauch (1829-1911)

What It Means

This is a placeholder explanation generated by the low-overhead model. It interprets "The King was very ignorant… he lacked education. ... He was ignorant of geography, the teachings of history and the science of international law" in the context of "All the King's Men' A search for the colonial ideas of some advisers and "accomplices" of Leopold II (1853-1892). (Hannes Vanhauwaert), 8. The Short Colonial Careers of Jules Greindl, Eugène père Beyens, Eugène Napoléon Beyens and Maximilien Strauch, Maximilien Strauch (1829-1911) ROEYKENS, A. Les débuts de l'oeuvre africaine de Léopold II, o.c., 414-415. Roeykens, who never hesitated to applaud Leopold II for his colonial «genius», felt uncomfortable quoting and paraphrasing this letter. Roeykens consequently questioned Wauters' objectivity, critical spirit and serenity in harsh terms." to mean that wisdom is timeless.

Source: Wikiquote: "Leopold II of Belgium" (Quotes about Leopold II) The 'What it means' explanation text was generated by Google Gemini Flash (accessed January 18, 2026). https://gemini.google.com/app

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Leopold II of Belgium

About Leopold II of Belgium

Leopold Lodewijk Philip Maria Victor (Brussels, April 9, 1835 – Laeken, December 17, 1909), Prince of Belgium, Duke of Saxony, Prince of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha, Duke of Brabant and Senator of Belgium, was the second King of the Belgians. He was the second but eldest surviving son of Belgium's first king Leopold I of Belgium and Queen Louise Marie of Orléans. He succeeded his father to the throne on December 17, 1865 and remained king until his death in 1909. Leopold II was also the founder and King sovereign of the Congo Free State, which he obtained through the Berlin Conference.