18. When his talk turned to the topic of affairs of State, Saigo said lamentably that if a situation ever arises where this nation is insulted by a foreign country, it will be a duty of the government to carry out the right way and to act in accordance with moral principles even if the entire country becomes engaged in and goes down as a result.
一八　談国事に及びし時、慨然（がいぜん）として申されけるは、国の陵辱（りようじよく）せらるるに当りては縦令（たとい）国を以て斃（たお）るるとも、正道を践（ふ）み、義を尽すは政府の本務也。