Now transfer the problem from mathematics to history. Let us for the sake of argument suppose that
| AB | represents | politics |
| CD | ” | trade |
| EF | ” | art |
| GH | ” | militarism |
In the [figure I] the perfectly balanced state, all lines are equally long and quite as much attention is paid to politics as to trade and art and militarism.
But in [figure II] (which is no longer a perfect circle) trade has got an undue advantage at the expense of politics and art has almost entirely disappeared, while militarism shows a gain.
Or make GH (militarism) the longest diameter, and the others will tend to disappear altogether.
III
You will find this a handy key to a great many historical problems.