"War is much to serious a thing to be left to the military."
Georges Clemenceau (1841-1929)
"As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular."
Oscar Wilde (1854-1900)
"War is the national industry of Prussia."
Comte de Mirabeau (1749-1791)
"War is the trade of Kings."
John Dryden (1631-1700)
"War its ten thousand slays, Peace its ten thousands."
Beilby Porteus (1731-1808)
"War lays a burden on the reeling state,
And peace does nothing to relieve the weight."
"But war's a game, which, were their subjects wise, Kings would not play it."
William Cowper (1731-1800)
"My argument is that War makes rattling good history, but peace is poor reading."
"Only a man harrowing clods
In a slow silent walk
With an old horse that stumbles and nods
Half asleep as they stalk.
Only thin smoke without flame
From the heaps of couch grass;
Yet this will go onward the same
Though Dynasties pass.
Yonder a maid and her wight
Come whispering by:
War's annals will cloud into night
Ere their story die."
Thomas Hardy (1840-1928)
