Quotes on War

In war, we always deform ourselves, our essence.

War is not an independent phenomenon, but the continuation of politics by different means.

War is a positive, precise and specific evil, of gigantic proportions ...making within the sphere of its influence all true grandeur impossible.

Statism needs war; a free country does not. Statism survives by looting; a free country survives by producing.

Either man will abolish war, or war will abolish man.

War means blind obedience, unthinking stupidity, brutish callousness, wanton destruction, and irresponsible murder.

How vile and despicable war seems to me! I would rather be hacked to pieces than take part in such an abominable business.

Even if we are spared destruction by war, our lives will have to change if we want to save life from self-destruction.

Wars produce many stories of fiction, some of which are told until they are believed to be true.

The time has come when we must proceed with the business of carrying the war to the enemy, not permitting the greater portion of our armed forces and our valuable material to be immobilized within the continental United States.

The quality of decision is like the well-timed swoop of a falcon which enables it to strike and destroy its victim.

The true objective of war is peace.

A leader leads by example not by force.

Millions of people in nearly 80 countries still live in fear of landmines and explosive remnants of war, which take an unacceptable toll on lives and limbs, and people's livelihoods

Both parties deprecated war; but one of them would make war rather than let the nation survive; and the other would accept war rather than let it perish. And the war came.

It is the rule in war, if ten times the enemy's strength, surround them; if five times, attack them; if double, be able to divide them; if equal, engage them; if fewer, defend against them; if weaker, be able to avoid them.

What is essential in war is victory, not prolonged operations.

The first, the supreme, the most far-reaching act of judgment that the statesman and commander have to make is to establish ... the kind of war on which they are embarking.

Generally in war the best policy is to take a state intact; to ruin it is inferior to this.

He whose ranks are united in purpose will be victorious.

When I have won a victory I do not repeat my tactics but respond to circumstances in an infinite variety of ways.