decline of the Roman Empire
... that although Montesquieu had only intended to write a few pages about the decline of the Roman Empire, he eventually produced 277 pages in 23 chapters?
... that although <a href="./Montesquieu" id="mwAws" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Montesquieu">Montesquieu</a> had only intended to write a few pages about the <b id="mwAww"><a href="./Considerations_on_the_Causes_of_the_Greatness_of_the_Romans_and_their_Decline" id="mwAw0" rel="mw:WikiLink" title="Considerations on the Causes of the Greatness of the Romans and their Decline">decline of the Roman Empire</a></b>, he eventually produced 277 pages in 23 chapters?