Quote#Nature
The French system of conscription brings together a fair sample of…
Quote byArthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington · 1769–1852
Commonly attributed — not confirmed in an authoritative edition. Cited on Wikiquote to: Notes of Conversations with the Duke of Wellington (1886), Speaking about soldiers in the British Army, 4 November 1813.
English (original)
The French system of conscription brings together a fair sample of all classes; ours is composed of the scum of the earth — the mere scum of the earth. It is only wonderful that we should be able to make so much out of them afterwards.
— Arthur Wellesley, 1st Duke of Wellington
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