There is a time for all things, a time to preach and a time to pray, but those times have read more

There is a time for all things, a time to preach and a time to pray, but those times have passed away. There is a time to fight, and that time has now come.

Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.

Mankind must put an end to war before war puts an end to mankind.

A riot is a spontaneous outburst. A war is subject to advance planning.

A riot is a spontaneous outburst. A war is subject to advance planning.

What is absurd and monstrous about war is that men who have no personal quarrel should be trained to murder read more

What is absurd and monstrous about war is that men who have no personal quarrel should be trained to murder one another in cold blood.

Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That read more

Naturally the common people don't want war; neither in Russia, nor in England, nor in America, nor in Germany. That is understood. But after all, it is the leaders of the country who determine policy, and it is always a simple matter to drag the people along, whether it is a democracy, or a fascist dictatorship, or a parliament, or a communist dictatorship. Voice or no voice, the people can always be brought to the bidding of the leaders. That is easy. All you have to do is to tell them they are being attacked, and denounce the pacifists for lack of patriotism and exposing the country to danger. It works the same in any country.

Gaily! gaily! close our ranks!
Arm! Advance!
Hope of France!
Gaily! gaily! closed our read more

Gaily! gaily! close our ranks!
Arm! Advance!
Hope of France!
Gaily! gaily! closed our ranks!
Onward! Onward! Gauls and Franks!

It seems like such a terrible shame that innocent civilians have to get hurt in wars, otherwise combat would be read more

It seems like such a terrible shame that innocent civilians have to get hurt in wars, otherwise combat would be such a wonderfully healthy way to rid the human race of unneeded trash.

When every autumn people said it could not last through the winter, and when every spring there was still no read more

When every autumn people said it could not last through the winter, and when every spring there was still no end in sight, only the hope that out of it all some good would accrue to mankind kept men and nations fighting. When at last it was over, the war had many diverse results and one dominant one transcending all others: disillusion.

You know — we've had to imagine the war here, and we have imagined that it was being fought by read more

You know — we've had to imagine the war here, and we have imagined that it was being fought by aging men like ourselves. We had forgotten that the wars were fought by babies. When I saw those freashly shaved faces, it was a shock. 'My God, my God —' I said to myself, 'it's the Children's Crusade.'