“The prudence, fortitude, military discipline, labors, perilous navigations, and battles of the Spaniards – vassals of the most invincible Emperor of the Romam Catholic Empire, our natural King and Lord – will cause joy to the faithful and terror to the infidels. For this reason, and for the glory of God our Lord and for the service of the Catholic Imperial Majesty, it has seemed good to me to write this narrative, and to send it to Your Majesty, that all may have a knowledge of what is here related. It will be to the glory of God, because they have conquered and brought to our holy Catholic Faith so vast a number of heathens, aided by his Holy guidance. It will be to the honor of our Emperor because, by reason of his great power and good fortune, such events happened in his time. It will give joy to the faithful that such battles have been won, such provinces discovered and conquered, such riches brought home for the King and for themselves; and that such terror has been spread among the infidels, such admiration excited in all mankind.”

Trecho dos relatos dos companheiros de Pizarro, que com meia dúzia de gatos-pingados (168 soldados, nem todos a cavalo) capturaram (e mataram) Atahuallpa, imperador inca, protegido por 80.000 soldados.

Guns, Germs and Steel (Jared Diamond)