Porous borders and a diverse population have made it a perpetually weak polity, tempting countless invaders since the dawn of civilisation.
It is very striking that of all the international cricketers who could have been caught in this, it is the Pakistani cricketers who are among the worst paid of the international playing nations…it is easy to see how someone who is morally weak might be tempted by a £10,000 bribe when a millionaire just wouldn't be.It is, as Mr Szymanski concedes, an unpalatable argument.
This merger-happy administration, weak on antitrust, is tempted to grow fat.
And with the U.S. dollar so weak, others may be tempted to follow.
Wherever accountability is weak, rulers may be tempted to use the power of their office not to serve others but to strengthen their own hold on power, if not to enrich themselves.
And I can tell you I am no weaker than I am tempted to order the Magic Bullet from a late-night infomercial.
But it increases the effective supply of permits, which pushes down the price now languishing at around €5 a tonne, while companies are cutting emissions at a cost of over €150 a tonne under the renewables programme.Given that many of Europe's economies are so weak, it is tempting to say: abandon these failed policies and give up trying to restrict emissions.
But after years of suffering the effects of a weak pound, travellers may be tempted by countries that are once again looking like good value.
She was a rock to me, strong when I was weak, determined when I was tempted to falter, and fierce in her defence of the family.
Jesus, Christianity tells us, knows how it feels to be us, to be human, to be weak and discouraged, to be tempted and outraged, to be tired and hopeless.
