War is a brutal reality that has plagued humanity since the beginning of time. It brings about destruction, loss, and suffering. However, it also brings about bravery, sacrifice, and resilience. Here are 20 quotes on the reality of war that offer insight into its complexities and consequences.
“War does not determine who is right – only who is left.”
Bertrand Russell
This quote highlights the fact that war is not about justice or right vs. wrong. It’s about who is left standing after the dust settles.
“War is peace. Freedom is slavery. Ignorance is strength.”
George Orwell
This quote from Orwell’s dystopian novel, 1984, suggests that governments can manipulate language to justify war and oppression.
“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.”
Jose Narosky
This quote acknowledges that even those who physically survive war may still carry emotional and psychological wounds.
“You can no more win a war than you can win an earthquake.”
Jeannette Rankin
This quote highlights the uncontrollable and unpredictable nature of war and its aftermath.
“The soldier above all others prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.”
Douglas MacArthur
This quote acknowledges the immense sacrifice and burden that soldiers carry in times of war.
“Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die.”
Herbert Hoover
This quote suggests that those who start wars are not the ones who bear the brunt of its consequences.
“War may sometimes be a necessary evil. But no matter how necessary, it is always an evil, never a good. We will not learn how to live together in peace by killing each other’s children.”
Jimmy Carter
This quote acknowledges that while war may have its justifications, it will always come at a great cost.
“The direct use of force is such a poor solution to any problem, it is generally employed only by small children and large nations.”
David Friedman
This quote highlights the immaturity and shortsightedness of resorting to violence as a means of solving problems.
“The most persistent sound which reverberates through men’s history is the beating of war drums.”
Arthur Koestler
This quote suggests that war is a recurring and inevitable part of human history.
“War is what happens when language fails.”
Margaret Atwood
This quote suggests that war may be the result of a breakdown in communication and understanding.
“War is a cowardly escape from the problems of peace.”
Thomas Mann
This quote highlights the fact that war is often a way to avoid addressing underlying issues and conflicts.
“The first casualty when war comes is truth.”
Hiram Johnson
This quote suggests that war often involves deception and propaganda.
“It is well that war is so terrible, or we should grow too fond of it.”
Robert E. Lee
This quote suggests that the horror and brutality of war prevent us from becoming too enamored with it.
“The supreme art of war is to subdue the enemy without fighting.”
Sun Tzu
This quote suggests that the goal of war should not be to inflict harm, but rather to achieve victory through strategic means.
“In war, there are no unwounded soldiers.”
Jose Narosky
This quote acknowledges that even those who physically survive war may still carry emotional and psychological wounds.
“The war we have to wage today has only one goal and that is to make the world safe for diversity.”
U Thant
This quote suggests that the ultimate goal of war should be to promote and protect diversity and individuality.
“There is no glory in battle worth the blood it costs.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
This quote highlights the fact that the cost of war is often much greater than any perceived glory or victory.
“War is not an adventure. It is a disease. It is like typhus.”
Antoine de Saint-Exupéry
This quote suggests that war is not a heroic or exciting endeavor, but rather a destructive and contagious force.
“I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.”
Dwight D. Eisenhower
This quote highlights the fact that those who have experienced war firsthand often have a deep hatred and aversion to it.
These quotes offer different perspectives on the reality of war. They highlight the fact that war is complex, costly, and devastating, and that it should be avoided whenever possible. They also acknowledge the bravery and sacrifice of those who fight in wars, and the importance of promoting peace and diversity.
