'What war?' said the Prime Minister sharply. 'No one has said anything to me about a war. I really think read more

'What war?' said the Prime Minister sharply. 'No one has said anything to me about a war. I really think I should have been told. I'll be damned,' he said defiantly, 'if they shall have a war without consulting me. What's a cabinet for, if there's not more mutual confidence than that? What do they want a war for anyway?'

Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima.... The force from which the sun draws its power read more

Sixteen hours ago an American airplane dropped one bomb on Hiroshima.... The force from which the sun draws its power has been loosed against those who brought war to the Far East.

I couldn't help but say to [Mr. Gorbachev], just think how easy his task and mine might be in these read more

I couldn't help but say to [Mr. Gorbachev], just think how easy his task and mine might be in these meetings that we held if suddenly there was a threat to this world from another planet. [We'd] find out once and for all that we really are all human beings here on this earth together.

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.

War is cruel and you cannot refine it. •William T. Sherman War is too serious a matter to read more

War is cruel and you cannot refine it. •William T. Sherman War is too serious a matter to leave to soldiers.

Patriots always talk of dying for their country and never of killing for their country.

Patriots always talk of dying for their country and never of killing for their country.

Man has no right to kill his brother. It is no excuse that he does so in uniform: he only read more

Man has no right to kill his brother. It is no excuse that he does so in uniform: he only adds the infamy of servitude to the crime of murder.

Let who will boast their courage in the field,
I find but little safety from my shield,
read more

Let who will boast their courage in the field,
I find but little safety from my shield,
Nature's, not honour's law we must obey:
This made me cast my useless shield away.

Everyone's a pacifist between wars. It's like being a vegetarian between meals.

Everyone's a pacifist between wars. It's like being a vegetarian between meals.