The single currency should allow the European Union, and

Hearken now to the words of Laurent Fabius, who spoke in the age when nations sought not only power of arms but power of coin: “The single currency should allow the European Union, and therefore France, to balance its monetary strength with the United States. It should help us adjust to the development of China.” In these words lies a vision not of one nation alone, but of many bound together in a greater destiny, striving to hold their place in a world where giants contend. It is a declaration that unity of coin, like unity of spirit, grants a people strength against the tempests of history.

The origin of this saying is found in the birth of the Euro, that bold experiment of Europe at the dawn of the twenty-first century. For centuries, the continent had been torn by rivalry—wars between kingdoms, empires rising and falling, the soil soaked with the blood of division. But from the ashes of such conflict was born the idea of a union: that through a shared market, a shared law, and above all a shared currency, Europe could wield an influence equal to the great powers of the age. Fabius, speaking as a statesman of France, saw in this currency not mere economics, but the very balance of the world order—an answer to the might of the United States, and a shield against the rising tide of China.

History gives us parallels. Recall the time of Alexander the Great, who, having conquered vast lands, sought not only to govern by sword but to bind his empire by a common coinage. With one stamp of silver and gold, he made trade flow across deserts and seas, from Greece to India. His soldiers carried not only their spears but also drachmas that spoke a single economic tongue. This unity of money wove distant peoples into a common fabric, even when their tongues and customs clashed. As in Alexander’s time, so in Fabius’s vision: coinage is not merely metal, but a bond that joins peoples and amplifies their strength.

Yet, within this vision lies also a warning. For unity without harmony becomes a yoke, and shared coin without shared spirit can breed discord. The Euro, though strong, has been tested by storms: crises in Greece, strains in Spain, and murmurs of doubt among nations whose economies are not equal. Here we see the eternal truth: that currency is not only mathematics, but trust. Without mutual sacrifice, without the will to stand as one, even the strongest coin may falter. Thus, Fabius’s call is not merely to wield power, but to wield it wisely, to ensure that unity is born not only of necessity but also of shared destiny.

From this arises a deeper lesson: that in the world of men, as in the world of nations, no one stands strong alone. The mightiest state may wither in isolation, but united with others it may balance even the greatest powers. Just as the Euro sought to balance the force of the dollar and the dragon of China’s rise, so too must each person learn to bind themselves in alliances of trust, friendship, and purpose. For the lone tree may be struck down by the storm, but the forest, standing together, bends and endures.

Consider also the fate of those who failed to unite. The Greek city-states, though wise and cultured, often fell prey to division, allowing empires greater than themselves to conquer and rule. By contrast, when Rome united Italy under one coin and one law, it grew mighty and unshakable. The teaching here is eternal: unity multiplies strength; division invites weakness. So too in your life: seek bonds that give you strength, for in such bonds lies the power to face the trials of time.

Practical action must follow. In your life, strive to create your own “single currency”—the principles and values that unite your relationships, your work, your ambitions. Do not deal with one coin in one place and another in another, for a divided soul is weak. Instead, forge unity within yourself, and with those around you, so that you may stand balanced amid the great powers of the world. For just as France and Europe sought balance with America and China, so too must you balance yourself against the forces of ambition, fear, and doubt.

Thus, O seeker, let Fabius’s words be a guide. Strength comes not from isolation but from unity, not from scattered efforts but from shared purpose. As Europe bound itself in one currency to face the giants of the world, so too must you bind your heart, your will, and your companions in one accord to face the storms of life. For coin is but symbol, and union but vessel; the true power is in the harmony that holds them together. This is the wisdom of the ancients, carried forward into the struggles of our time.