I have seen and realised what the historians will relate at second-hand.

The greatest events move like straws in the wind.

A month ago, it seemed as though the Central Powers would lose the war." "I suppose," she observed, "it depends very much upon what you mean by winning it?
The terms of peace are scarcely the terms of victory, are they ?" "The terms of peace," he repeated thoughtfully.
"We happen to know what they are, do we not ?" she continued, speaking almost under her breath, "the basic terms, at any rate." "You mean," he said slowly, "the terms put forward by the Socialist Party of Germany to ensure the granting of an armistice ?" "And acceded to," she reminded him, "by the Kaiser and the two greatest German statesmen." He toyed with his teacup, drew a gold cigarette case from his pocket, selected a cigarette, and lit it.
"You would try to make me believe," he remarked, smiling at his companion, "that to-day you are not in your most intelligent mood." "Explain, if you please," she begged earnestly.
He smoked stolidly for several moments.
"I imagine," he said, "that you preserve with me something of that very skilfully assumed ignorance which is the true mask of the diplomatist.
But is it worth while, I wonder ?" She caught at her breath.
"You are too clever," she murmured, looking at him covertly.
"You have seen," he continued, "how Germany, who needs peace sorely, has striven to use the most despised power in her country for her own advantage--I mean the Socialist Party.

From being treated with scorn and ignominy, they were suddenly, at the time of the proposed Stockholm Conference, judged worthy of notice from the All Highest himself.

He suddenly saw how wonderful a use might be made of them.