And in this distress we can only rely on ourselves

"Montaigne in his essay “On Physiognomy,” written in 1585, described the wars as “profitable disasters.” The mutual butcheries, in effect, prepared him for the real plague. The cruelty and fury, ambition and avarice that consumed both sides taught him “to rely on myself in distress.” 

We were lucky. In Lithuania, the reckless greed of the golden spoon scandal has shown us that if this is happening  in our country in a “profitable disaster” - an ruthless war of words with our neighbors Russia and Belarus - then we can each trust only ourselves in case of any trouble. Now that our state allows us to walk without masks during the modern plague (Covid-19), risking the health and lives of us and our families for the sake of the economy, in reality, the same unlimited greed, we know that in this distress we can only rely on ourselves. Let’s put on masks when we find ourselves next to people not from our family.