Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Comment on this quoteShare via Email Print this Page Daily Quotes Archives2007-10-09 Oct 9, 2007To die for an idea: it is unquestionably noble. But how much nobler it would be if men died for ideas that were true.~ H. L. MenckenThe voice of protest, of warning, of appeal is never more needed than when the clamor of fife and drum, echoed by the press and too often by the pulpit, is bidding all men fall in and keep step and obey in silence the tyrannous word of command. Then, more than ever, it is the duty of the good citizen not to be silent.~ Charles Eliot NortonWe cannot defend freedom abroad by deserting it at home.~ Edward R. Murrow Oct 8, 2007[America] goes not abroad, in search of monsters to destroy. She is the well-wisher to the freedom and independence of all. She is the champion and vindicator only of her own. She will commend the general cause by the countenance of her voice, and the benignant sympathy of her example. She well knows that by once enlisting under other banners than her own, were they even the banners of foreign independence, she would involve herself beyond the power of extrication, in all the wars of interest and intrigue, of individual avarice, envy, and ambition, which assume the colors and usurp the standard of freedom.~ John Quincy AdamsOne of the fondest expressions around is that we can't be the world's policeman. But guess who gets called when somebody needs a cop.~ General Colin PowellWar itself requires no special motive but appears to be engrafted on human nature; it passes even for something noble, to which the love of glory impels men quite apart from any selfish urges. Thus among the American savages, just as much as among those of Europe during the age of chivalry, military valor is held to be of great worth in itself, not only during war (which is natural) but in order that there should be war. Often war is waged only in order to show valor; thus an inner dignity is ascribed to war itself, and even some philosophers have praised it as an ennoblement of humanity, forgetting the pronouncement of the Greek who said, "War is an evil inasmuch as it produces more wicked men than it takes away." So much for the measures nature takes to lead the human race, considered as a class of animals, to her own end.~ Immanuel Kant Oct 5, 2007The essence of war is violence. Moderation in war is imbecility.~ John A. FisherNo bastard ever won a war by dying for his country. He won it by making the other poor dumb bastard die for his country.~ General George S. Patton, Jr.War is cruelty, and you cannot refine it.~ William Tecumseh Sherman Oct 4, 2007There is no telling how many wars it will take to secure freedom in the homeland.~ George W. BushA just fear of an imminent danger, though there be no blow given, is a lawful cause of war.~ Sir Francis BaconWe must also go out and meet the enemy before he reaches our shores. We must defeat him before he attacks us, before our cities are laid to waste.~ William Lyon Mackenzie King Oct 3, 2007War is the trade of Kings.~ John Dryden[A] possible further difficulty is cited, namely, that arising from the Constitutional provision that only Congress may declare war. This argument is countered with the contention that a treaty will override this barrier, let alone the fact that our participation in such police action as might be recommended by the international security organization need not necessarily be construed as war.~ Council on Foreign RelationsThe Constitution supposes what the history of all governments demonstrates, that the executive is the branch of power most interested in war and most prone to it. It has accordingly with studied care, vested the question of war in the legislature. [If a president is successful in bypassing the Congress] it is evident that the people are cheated out of the best ingredients in the government, the safeguards of peace which is the greatest of their blessings.~ Richard M. Nixon Previous week's quotes Next week's quotes Share on Facebook Tweet Email Print