Thucydides, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, he began at the moment read more

Thucydides, an Athenian, wrote the history of the war between the Peloponnesians and the Athenians, he began at the moment that it broke out, believing that it would be a great war, and more memorable than any that had preceded it.

You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.

You cannot simultaneously prevent and prepare for war.

If war should sweep our commerce from the seas, another generation will restore it. If war exhausts our treasury, future read more

If war should sweep our commerce from the seas, another generation will restore it. If war exhausts our treasury, future industry will replenish it. If war desiccate and lay waste our fields, under new cultivation they will grow green again and ripen to future harvest. If the walls of yonder Capitol should fall and its decorations be covered by the dust of battle, all these can be rebuilt. But who shall reconstruct the fabric of a demolished government; who shall dwell in the well-proportioned columns of constitutional liberty; who shall frame together the skillful architecture which unites sovereignty with state's rights, individual security with prosperity?

In a war of ideas, it is people who get killed.

In a war of ideas, it is people who get killed.

War grows out of the desire of the individual to gain advantage at the expense of his fellow man.

War grows out of the desire of the individual to gain advantage at the expense of his fellow man.

Soldiers usually win the battles and generals get the credit for them.

Soldiers usually win the battles and generals get the credit for them.

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.

There is no such thing as an inevitable war. If war comes it will be from failure of human wisdom.

There is no such thing as an inevitable war. If war comes it will be from failure of human wisdom.

War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.

War is only a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.