Quotes on War

From a long view of the history of mankind, seen from, say, ten thousand years from now, there can be little doubt that the most significant event of the 19th century will be judged as Maxwell's discovery of the laws of electrodynamics. The American Civil War will pale into provincial insignificance in comparison with this important scientific event of the same decade.

Novels ought to have hope; at least, American novels ought to have hope. French novels don't need to. We mostly win wars, they lose them. Of course, they did hide more Jews than many other countries, and this is a form of winning.

Today is only one day in all the days that will ever be. But what will happen in all the other days that ever come can depend on what you do today. It's been that way all this year. It's been that way so many times. All of war is that way.

The course of this conflict is not known, yet its outcome is certain. Freedom and fear, justice and cruelty, have always been at war, and we know that God is not neutral between them.

You should seek your enemy, you should wage your war - a war for your opinions. And when your opinion is defeatedy our honesty should still cry triumph over that!

I hope my own children never have to fight a war.

It makes no difference what men think of war, said the judge. War endures. As well ask men what they think of stone. War was always here. Before man was, war waited for him. The ultimate trade awaiting its ultimate practitioner. That is the way it was and will be. That way and not some other way.

Being over seventy is like being engaged in a war. All our friends are going or gone and we survive amongst the dead and the dying as on a battlefield.

We did not raise armies for glory or for conquest.

War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.

The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.

The spirit of this country is totally adverse to a large military force.

Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none.

Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.

I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.

I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.

The republican is the only form of government which is not eternally at open or secret war with the rights of mankind.

Every citizen should be a soldier. This was the case with the Greeks and Romans, and must be that of every free state.

Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.

It is incumbent on every generation to pay its own debts as it goes. A principle which if acted on would save one-half the wars of the world.

Everybody’s at war with different things…I’m at war with my own heart sometimes.