War quotes

War

17K quotes on this topic — from poets, philosophers, and thinkers across history.

17K quotes

Explore further

Browse quotes that often appear alongside war — connected by shared ideas and recurring themes.

Quote collection

War quotes (page 241 of 853)

Follow a thought to its author, or read the full quote page.

Noam Chomsky Linguist, Philosopher, Activist
War

"If you look back to the anti-intervention movements, what were they? Let's take the Vietnam War - the biggest crime since the Second World War. You couldn't be opposed to the war for years. The mainstream liberal intellectuals were enthusiastically in support of the war. In Boston, a liberal city where I was, we literally couldn't have a public demonstration without it being violently broken up, with the liberal press applauding, until late 1966."

Read quote 3 likes
Noam Chomsky Linguist, Philosopher, Activist
War

"There have been repeated cases when nuclear war came ominously close, often a result of malfunctioning of early-warning systems and other accidents, sometimes [as a result of] highly adventurist acts of political leaders."

Read quote 3 likes
Noam Chomsky Linguist, Philosopher, Activist
War

"Most of us who were opposed to the war, especially in the early '60's - the war we were opposed to was the war on South Vietnam which destroyed South Vietnam's rural society. The South was devastated. But now anyone who opposed this atrocity is regarded as having defended North Vietnam. And that's part of the effort to present the war as if it were a war between South Vietnam and North Vietnam with the United States helping the South. Of course it's fabrication. But it's "official truth" now."

Read quote 3 likes
Leon Trotsky Revolutionary, Politician
War

"A program of "disarmament," while imperialist antagonisms survive, is the most pernicious of fictions. Even if it were realized by way of general agreement - an obviously fantastic assumption!- that would by no means prevent a new war. The imperialists do not make war because there are armaments; on the contrary, they forge arms when they need to fight."

Read quote 3 likes
Leonard Cohen Singer-Songwriter
War

"There is a war between the ones who say there is a war and the ones who say there isn't."

War
Read quote 3 likes
Leonard Cohen Singer-Songwriter
War

"Everybody knows that the dice are loaded, Everybody rolls with their fingers crossed, Everybody knows that the war is over, Everybody knows the good guys lost."

Read quote 3 likes
Leonard Cohen Singer-Songwriter
War

"The wars they will be fought again The holy dove be caught again bought and sold and bought again; the dove is never free."

Read quote 3 likes
Leonardo DiCaprio Actor, Producer, Environmental Activist
War

"I urge individuals around the world to stand up, and ask local leaders, if they haven't already, to pledge to purchase cleaner cars, build green facilities, and buy green power like wind or solar energy. Our actions may determine if we become a casualty in the war for a habitable planet for generations to come."

Read quote 3 likes
Henry Adams Historian
War

"Against them make ready your strength to the utmost of your power, including steeds of war, to strike terror into (the hearts of) the enemies, of Allah and your enemies, and others besides, whom ye may not know, but whom Allah doth know"

Read quote 3 likes
Henry David Thoreau Writer, Philosopher
War

"How we shall earn our bread is a grave question; yet it is a sweet and inviting question. Let us not shirk it, as is usually done.It is the most important and practical question which is put to man. Let us not answer it hastily. Let us not be content to get our bread in some gross, careless, and hasty manner. Some men go a-hunting, some a-fishing, some a-gaming, some to war; but none have so pleasant a time as they who in earnest seek to earn their bread."

Read quote 3 likes
Henry David Thoreau Writer, Philosopher
War

"Cast your whole vote, not a piece of paper merely, but your whole influence. A minority is powerless when it conforms to a majority; but is irresistable when it clogs by its whole weight. If the alternative is to keep all just men in prison, or give up war and slavery, the State will not hesitate which to choose."

Read quote 3 likes
Henry David Thoreau Writer, Philosopher
War

"I quietly declare war with the State, after my fashion, though I will still make use and get advantage of her as I can, as is usual in such cases."

Read quote 3 likes
Henry David Thoreau Writer, Philosopher
War

"I have no doubt that they lived pretty much the same sort of life in the Homeric age, for men have always thought more of eating than of fighting; then, as now, their minds ran chiefly on the "hot bread and sweet cakes;" and the fur and lumber trade is an old story to Asia and Europe."

Read quote 3 likes
Henry David Thoreau Writer, Philosopher
War

"The very dogs that sullenly bay the moon from farm-yards in these nights excite more heroism in our breasts than all the civil exhortations or war sermons of the age."

Read quote 3 likes
Henry David Thoreau Writer, Philosopher
War

"It is for no particular item in the tax-bill that I refuse to pay it. I simply wish to refuse allegiance to the State, to withdrawand stand aloof from it effectually. I do not care to trace the course of my dollar, if I could, till it buys a man or a musket to shoot one with,--the dollar is innocent,--but I am concerned to trace the effects of my allegiance. In fact, I quietly declare war with the State, after my fashion, though I will still make what use and get what advantage of her I can, as is usual in such cases."

Read quote 3 likes
Henry David Thoreau Writer, Philosopher
War

"I did not go to Boston, for with regard to that place I sympathize with one of my neighbors, an old man, who has not been there since the last war, when he was compelled to go. No, I have a real genius for staying at home."

Read quote 3 likes
Henry David Thoreau Writer, Philosopher
War

"While the very inhabitants of New England were thus fabling about the country a hundred miles inland, which was a terra incognitato them,... Champlain, the first Governor of Canada,... had already gone to war against the Iroquois in their forest forts, and penetrated to the Great Lakes and wintered there, before a Pilgrim had heard of New England."

Read quote 3 likes