War and peace

Explore 12 quotes about War and peace

Make war that we may live in peace.

Aristotle

The Nicomachean Ethics

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Topic

War and peace War Peace

Author

Aristotle

Source

The Nicomachean Ethics

Genre

Philosophical literature

Statement Type

Paradox

Language

Greek

Time

322 BC 320s BC 4th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Aristotle. Ἠθικὰ Νικομάχεια, Ēthika Nikomacheia [Nicomachean Ethics]. c. 322 BC.

Current Citation

Aristotle. Nicomachean Ethics, translated by Terence Irwin. Hackett Publishing, 2019.

Let me have war, say I. It exceeds peace as far as day does night. It's sprightly waking, audible, and full of vent. Peace is a very apoplexy, lethargy; mulled, deaf, sleepy, insensible.

William Shakespeare

Coriolanus

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Topic

War and peace War Peace

Speaker

First Serving Man

Author

William Shakespeare

Source

Coriolanus

Medium

Play

Genre

Tragedy (play)

Statement Type

Metaphor, analogy and simile

Language

English

Time

1616 1610s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Coriolanus." Mr. William Shakespeare's Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies. London: Edward Blount and William and Isaac Jaggard, 1623, act 4, sc. 5.

Current Citation

Shakespeare, William. "Coriolanus." The Norton Shakespeare, edited by Stephen Greenblatt, et al., 3rd ed., W. W. Norton & Company, 2015, act 4, sc. 5.

No one is stupid enough to prefer war to peace; in peace sons bury their fathers and in war fathers bury their sons. However, I suppose the god must have wanted this to happen.

Herodotus

Histories

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Topic

War and peace War Peace

Speaker

Croesus

Author

Herodotus

Source

Histories

Genre

Historical literature

Language

Greek

Time

430 BC 430s BC 5th century BC

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Herodotus. Ἱστορίαι [Histories]. c. 430 BC, bk. 1, sect. 87.

Current Citation

Herodotus. The Histories, translated by Robin Waterfield. Oxford University Press, 2008, bk. 1, sect. 87.

Even in those cities which seem to enjoy the blessings of peace, and where the arts flourish, the inhabitants are devoured by envy, cares and anxieties, which are greater plagues than any experienced in a town when it is under siege.

Voltaire

Candide

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Topic

War and peace War Peace

Speaker

Martin

Author

Voltaire

Source

Candide

Medium

Novel

Genre

Satire

Language

French

Time

1759 1750s 18th century

Era

Age of Enlightenment

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Voltaire. Candide, ou l'Optimisme [Candide: or, All for the Best]. Geneva: Gabriel Cramer, 1759, ch. 20.

Current Citation

Voltaire. Candide, edited by Nicholas Cronk. W. W. Norton & Company, 2016, ch. 20.

There never was a good War, or a bad Peace.

Benjamin Franklin

Read this letter at the National Archives website

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Topic

War and peace War Peace Anti-war

Author

Benjamin Franklin

Source

Letters of Benjamin Franklin

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1783 1780s 18th century

Era

American Revolutionary Period

Authentication Score 2

Original Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. Letter to Josiah Quincy, Sr. 11 Sept. 1783.

Current Citation

Franklin, Benjamin. "To Josiah Quincy, Sr., September 11, 1783." Franklin Papers, Yale University, franklinpapers.org/framedVolumes.jsp.

Peace hath her victories
No less renowned than war.

John Milton

More information about this quote

Topic

War and peace Peacetime

Author

John Milton

Source

To Oliver Cromwell

Medium

Letter

Language

English

Time

1674 1670s 17th century

Era

European Renaissance

Authentication Score 3

Original Citation

Milton, John. "To Oliver Cromwell." Letters of State Written by Mr. John Milton. London, 1694, l. 9.

Current Citation

Milton, John. "To the Lord General Cromwell." John Milton: The Major Works, edited by Stephen Orgel and Jonathan Goldberg. Oxford University Press, 2008, I. 9.

War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading.

Thomas Hardy

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Topic

War and peace War Peace

Author

Thomas Hardy

Source

The Dynasts

Medium

Play

Language

English

Time

1904 1900s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

Hardy, Thomas. The Dynasts. Vol. 1, MacMillan & Co., 1904, pt. 1, act 1, sc. 5.

War appears to be as old as mankind, but peace is a modern invention.

Henry Maine

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Topic

War and peace War Peace

Author

Henry Maine

Medium

Lecture

Language

English

Time

1887 1880s 19th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Maine, Henry. "International Law: Its Origin and Sources." Whewell Lecture. 1887, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, UK.

It is easier to make war than to make peace.

Georges Clemenceau

More information about this quote

Topic

War and peace War Peace

Speaker

Georges Clemenceau

Source

Speech on Peace

Medium

Speech

Genre

Political speech

Language

French

Time

1919 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 1

Citation

Clemenceau, Georges. "Discours de Paix [Speech on Peace]." 20 July 1919, Verdun, France.

War is hell, and all that, but it has a good deal to recommend it. It wipes out all the small nuisances of peace-time.

Ian Hay

More information about this quote

Topic

War and peace War

Speaker

Captain Wagstaffe

Author

Ian Hay

Source

The First Hundred Thousand

Medium

Novel

Language

English

Time

1915 1910s 20th century

Authentication Score 3

Citation

Hay, Ian. "The First Hundred Thousand." Blackwood's Magazine, 1915.

Were I to... Take a peasant by the shoulders and whisper to him, "In your lifetime, have you known peace?" wait for his answer, shake his shoulders and transform him into his father, and ask him the same question, and transform him in turn into his father, I would never hear the word "yes" if I carried my questioning of the dead back for a thousand years.

Rebecca West

More information about this quote

Topic

Nature of war War and peace Peace War

Author

Rebecca West

Source

Black Lamb and Grey Falcon

Genre

Travel writing

Language

English

Time

1941 1940s 20th century

Authentication Score 2

Citation

West, Rebecca. Black Lamb and Grey Falcon: A Journey Through Yugoslavia. Vol. 1, The Viking Press, 1941.

Let him who desires peace prepare for war.

Vegetius

More information about this quote

Topic

Deterrence War and peace Preparation

Author

Vegetius

Source

On Military Matters

Language

Latin

Time

383 380s 4th century

Era

Classical antiquity

Authentication Score 1

Original Citation

Vegetius. Epithoma rei militaris [Concerning Military Matters]. Utrecht, c. 1473.

Current Citation

Vegetius. Vegetius: Epitome of Military Science, translated by N. P. Milner. Liverpool University Press, 1997, bk. 3, preface.