Rousseau, On the Social Contract, trans. Donald A. Cress:
In Europe there is still one country capable of receiving legislation. It is the island of Corsica. The valor and constancy with which this brave people has regained and defended its liberty would well merit having some wise man teaching them how to preserve it. I have a feeling that some day that little island will astonish Europe.
What a delightful non sequitur. Of course, then there was Napoleon, who probably came as close as anyone to putting Corsica on the map.
Emily Rutherford 