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.

"I cannot bear it!" said the pewter soldier. "I have shed pewter
tears! It is too melancholy! Rather let read more

"I cannot bear it!" said the pewter soldier. "I have shed pewter
tears! It is too melancholy! Rather let me go to the wars and
lose arms and legs! It would at least be a change. I cannot
bear it longer! Now, I know what it is to have a visit from
one's old thoughts, with what they may bring with them! I have
had a visit from mine, and you may be sure it is no pleasant
thing in the end; I was at last about to jump down from the
drawers."

The day when nobody comes back from a war it will be because the war has at last been properly read more

The day when nobody comes back from a war it will be because the war has at last been properly organized.

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

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

I have always said that a conference was held for one reason only, to give everybody chance to get sore read more

I have always said that a conference was held for one reason only, to give everybody chance to get sore at everybody else. Sometimes it takes two or three conferences to scare up a war, but generally one will do it.

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.

Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore read more

Be convinced that to be happy means to be free and that to be free means to be brave. Therefore do not take lightly the perils of war.

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.

If I am asked what we are fighting for, I can reply in two
sentences. In the first place, read more

If I am asked what we are fighting for, I can reply in two
sentences. In the first place, to fulfil a solemn international
obligation . . . an obligation of honor which no self-respecting
man could possibly have repudiated. I say, secondly, we are
fighting to vindicate the principle that small nationalities are
not to be crushed in defiance of international good faith at the
arbitrary will of a strong and overmastering Power.