"The violence of war admits no distinction; the lance, that is lifted at guilt and power, will sometimes fall on innocence and gentleness."
Read quote
3 likes
War quotes
War
17K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.
Explore further
Topics related to War
Browse quotes that often appear alongside war — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.
Quote collection
War quotes (page 211 of 853)
Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.
"In a time of war the nation is always of one mind, eager to hear something good of themselves and ill of the enemy. At this time the task of the news-writer is easy; they have nothing to do but to tell that a battle is expected, and afterwards that a battle has been fought, in which we and our friends, whether conquering or conquered, did all, and our enemies did nothing."
Read quote
3 likes
"The botanist looks upon the astronomer as a being unworthy of his regard; and he that is glowing great and happy by electrifying a bottle wonders how the world can be engaged by trifling prattle about war and peace."
Read quote
3 likes
"So if we announce we're going to have a no-fly zone, and others have said this. Hillary Clinton is also for it. It is a recipe for disaster. It's a recipe for World War III. We need to confront Russia from a position of strength, but we don't need to confront Russia from a point of recklessness that would lead to war."
Read quote
3 likes
"In battle, combatants engaged in war against America get no due process and may lawfully be killed. But citizens not in a battlefield - however despicable - are guaranteed a trial by our Constitution. No one argues that Americans who commit treason shouldn't be punished. The maximum penalty for treason is death. But the Constitution specifies the process necessary to convict."
Read quote
3 likes
"The coarsening of our culture towards violent death has more consequences than war. Tragically, this same culture has led to the death of 50 million unborn children in the last 40 years. I don't think a civilization can long endure that does not have respect for all human life, born and not yet born. I believe there will come a time when we are all judged on whether or not we took a stand in defense of all life from the moment of conception until our last natural breath."
Read quote
3 likes
"The main thing I say on war is that we need to obey the law and formally declare war."
Read quote
3 likes
"You can be strong without being involved in every single civil war around the world."
Read quote
3 likes
"Secretary [John] Kerry has called Civil War [in Syria] an unbelievably small war that we're going to get involved with."
Read quote
3 likes
"You have to decide in advance whether you're ready go to war. If you guys are ready to send a million troops into Ukraine and fight World War III, you're going to do it without my support because I think that's a really foolish notion."
Read quote
3 likes
"I tell people I won't vote to go to war unless I'm ready to go or send my kids."
Read quote
3 likes
"I think this sets a very bad precedent, the president unilaterally on his own starting war without any consent from Congress."
Read quote
3 likes
"This whole sort of 'war on women' sort of thing, I'm scratching my head because if there was a war on women, I think they won."
Read quote
3 likes
"We should understand the limitations of war. We should understand the sacrifices our young men and women go through losing lives and limbs. And they should only do it for the highest of purposes."
Read quote
3 likes
"I would have voted 'no' on the Iraq war and 'yes' to Afghanistan."
Read quote
3 likes
"I do not yet know if I will find a Romney presidency more acceptable on foreign policy. But I do know that I must oppose the most recent statements made by Mitt Romney in which he says he, as president, could take us to war unilaterally with Iran, without any approval from Congress."
Read quote
3 likes
"I don't think he fully analyzes the situation. If you destabilize [Bashar] Assad and punish Assad, you do embolden terrorists. You embolden al-Qaida because al-Qaida is on the other side of this war. So, one side wins if you destabilize the other side. So, he will be emboldening al-Qaida and the Islamic rebels. And I'm not so sure they're better than Assad."
Read quote
3 likes
"I think that there is a bipartisan consensus that's incorrect that we should have the whole world be in NATO. For example, if we had Ukraine and Georgia in NATO - and this is something McCain and the other neocons have advocated for - we would be at war now because Russia has invaded both of them."
Read quote
3 likes
"I just can't vote to go to war unless I think there's a real clear-cut American purpose in the war, that we're going to win and that we're not going fight for stalemate."
Read quote
3 likes
"I think that, most importantly, when I see issues of war, I see them in a personal vein, and I am reluctant to go to war unless there's a real, valid American interest because I've seen the wounded soldiers."
Read quote
3 likes