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The story is told that when God created the world, in order that humankind prosper appropriately, he decided to concede two distinctive virtues to each of the nations to come. And so he decided that..

The Swiss would be orderly and law-abiding.

The English persevering and studious.

The Japanese industrious and patient.

The French elegant and refined.

The Spaniards cheerful and welcoming.

When he reached the Italians, he turned to the angel who was taking notes and said:

“The Italians will be intelligent, honest and Communist.”

When the Act of Creation was completed, the recording angel then reminded God of this specification:

“Lord, you have given each nation two virtues, but the Italians have three. That means they will be able to dominate all the others.”

“Dammit! That’s right… But divine virtues once granted cannot be taken away. Let Italy have its three then! But no single individual can have more than two at the same time.”

And so it was:

The Italian who is both honest and a Communist cannot be intelligent.

He who is intelligent and a Communist cannot be honest.

And whoever is both intelligent and honest cannot be a Communist.