1. “As far as I am concerned, war itself is immoral.” -U.S. WWII General Omar Bradley
2. “The means of defense against foreign danger historically have become the instruments of tyranny at home.” -James Madison
3. “If Tyranny and Oppression come to this land, it will be in the guise of fighting a foreign enemy.” -James Madison
4. “No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare. ” -James Madison
5. “Of all the enemies of public liberty, war is perhaps the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.” -James Madison
6. “The executive has no right, in any case, to decide the question, whether there is or is not cause for declaring war.” -James Madison
7. “It is a universal truth that the loss of liberty at home is to be charged to the provisions against danger, real or pretended, from abroad.” -James Madison
8. “Having seen the people of all other nations bowed down to the earth under the wars and prodigalities of their rulers, I have cherished their opposites, peace, economy, and riddance of public debt, believing that these were the high road to public as well as private prosperity and happiness.” -Thomas Jefferson
9. “The most successful war seldom pays for its losses.” -Thomas Jefferson
10. “The spirit of this country is totally adverse to a large military force.” -Thomas Jefferson
11. “Governments constantly choose between telling lies and fighting wars, with the end result always being the same. One will always lead to the other.” -Thomas Jefferson
12. “I abhor war and view it as the greatest scourge of mankind.” -Thomas Jefferson
13. “Peace and friendship with all mankind is our wisest policy, and I wish we may be permitted to pursue it.” -Thomas Jefferson
14. “If there is one principle more deeply rooted in the mind of every American, it is that we should have nothing to do with conquest.” -Thomas Jefferson
15. “Conquest is not in our principles. It is inconsistent with our government.” -Thomas Jefferson
16. “War is an instrument entirely inefficient toward redressing wrong; and multiplies, instead of indemnifying losses.” -Thomas Jefferson
17. “A coward is much more exposed to quarrels than a man of spirit.” -Thomas Jefferson
18. “Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.” -Thomas Jefferson
19. “War…is as much a punishment to the punisher as to the sufferer.” -Thomas Jefferson
20. “I hope our wisdom will grow with our power, and teach us, that the less we use our power the greater it will be.” -Thomas Jefferson
Omar Bradley and Smedley Butler both pontificated about the evils of war. However, both of them practiced the art of war and profited from it. Just because they were hypocrites doesn’t mean they weren’t right about war.
War is a failure of diplomacy.
There is always a mutually agreeable solution that both sides can agree on, although it might not be perfect or exactly what each wants…