I saw in the whole Christian world a license of fighting at which even barbarous nations might blush. Wars were begun on trifling pretexts or none at all, and carried on without any reference of law, Divine or human.
Interpretation
Grotius critiques the moral decay of warfare in the Christian world, highlighting the lack of justifications for conflict.
In this quote, Hugo Grotius laments the state of the Christian world where wars are initiated on trivial grounds, reflecting a profound moral failure. He points out that even the most primitive societies would be ashamed of such indiscriminate violence, which occurs without adherence to either divine or human law, suggesting a deep philosophical reflection on the nature of justice and morality in human conflict.
In practice
In a speech at a peace conference, one might use this quote to emphasize the need for just causes in warfare.
A man cannot govern a nation if he cannot govern a city; he cannot govern a city if he cannot govern a family; he cannot govern a family unless he can govern himself; and he cannot govern himself unless his passions are subject to reason
By undertaking many things, I have accomplished nothing.
Men rush to arms for slight causes, or no cause at all, and once taken up there is no longer any respect for law, divine or human.
I find it very difficult to think of mistakes; not that I don't make any but because I was brought up to look only at the good things in life ... As for what lost the most money, probably Virgin Cola. It is still No 1 in Bangladesh though.
The real test of any church or religion is the kind of men it makes.
Fortunately analysis is not the only way to resolve inner conflicts. Life itself still remains a very effective therapist.
....it is of the very essence of Christianity to face suffering and death not because they are good, not because they have meaning, but because the resurrection of Jesus has robbed them of their meaning.
As an adolescent I was convinced that France would have to go through gigantic trials, that the interest of life consisted in one day rendering her some signal service and that I would have the occasion to do so.
Here ends the SILMARILLION. If it has passed from the high and the beautiful to darkness and ruin, that was of old the fate of Arda Marred; and if any change shall come and the Marring be amended, Manwë and Varda may know; but they have not revealed it, and it is not declared in the dooms of Mandos.
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