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14.1 Recognizing Excess (suggested cuts)
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It's a fact that m Most heads of state are flattered by ambitious politicians, but sometimes such efforts can really backfire disastrously. To give you an For example, in 17th century France, the life of Superintendent of Finance Nicolas Fouquet was totally ruined shortly after he tried to entertain King Louis XIV. Louis, who was aged 23 years old, had only recently become the acting monarch of the country, and Fouquet thought that he should go all out wanted to impress him. Fouquet took the initiative and invited Louis and the royal court to his fantastic, new château, Vaux-le-Vicompte, for several days of sumptuous banquets, brilliant fireworks, graceful ballets, and exciting games. Louis was impressed, but not in the way Fouquet had intended. In fact, the king was angry because Vaux-le-Vicompte was far more amazing and elegant than his own royal palace, and the game prizes, which included things like diamond jewelry and horses, seemed excessive, even for a Superintendent of Finance. Fouquet succeeded only in drawing everyone's attention to his own outrageous corruption and to the vast sums he had stolen from the country. Louis was advised not to humiliate Fouquet at his own party, but not long after that soon afterward, Fouquet was arrested, stripped of his impressive, spacious château, and sent to prison.
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