You see," the attorney Giuliani said, "not only is there no comfort in unanimity, but they cannot even achieve it." "I could unify them." "That's silly, Alessandro. If they supported you, or even listened, it would be because you flattened yourself and your ideas until everything that once was steep and noble was gone.
In "A Soldier of the Great War," the character Giuliani expresses a cynical view about the nature of consensus and unity among differing parties. He points out that the supposed strength in unanimity is misleading since true agreement is unachievable. This leads to the realization that trying to unify people requires compromising one's principles to the point where the original, profound ideas lose their essence. Another character challenges Giuliani's confidence in his ability to bring unity, indicating that such unification would come at the cost of sacrificing depth and integrity. The conversation highlights a tension between the desire for common ground and the risk of diluting one’s ideals in the process. Through this dialogue, Helprin explores the complexities of human relationships and the challenges inherent in achieving genuine consensus.
