If Italy refused to join its old allies, it meant that Italy was too honorable to assist their purposes; Italy knew the character of its associates.

When it finally repudiated them altogether and joined the war on the other side, it was a terrific indictment of the Germanic powers, for Italy had much more to gain in a material way from its old alliance.

It simply showed the world that spirit was above materialism; that emancipation was in the air and that the lamp of civilization might be dimmed but could not be darkened by the forces of evil..