Talk:Stately quadrille

ugh horrible article
The objective (WHOSE?) was not maintaining a balance of power. Countries (or the individuals that run them) pursue narrow self interest. The result may frequently have maintained a balance of power, and it did not always. 68.175.11.48 (talk) 21:49, 21 May 2016 (UTC)
 * while I completely agree that there was no objective to maintain a balance, the only stable equilibrium is a balance of power. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 98.7.201.234 (talk) 07:02, 15 December 2019 (UTC)

citation needed
the article talks about the "popularity" of referring to the shifting alliances as a stately quadrille. What's the source of this idea? I searched google books in the 19th century and found references to actual dances called stately quadrilles, dances that involved royalty essentially. The article should cite some "popular" diplomatic usages if they exist. 98.7.201.234 (talk) 07:07, 15 December 2019 (UTC)