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Quotes about war and peace

540 quotes from 231 people

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They were conquerors, and for that you want only brute force⁠—nothing to boast of, when you have it, since your strength is just an accident arising from the weakness of others.
Joseph Conrad1857–1924Heart of Darkness (1899), Part IIn context
- Power
I was always embarrassed by the words sacred, glorious, and sacrifice and the expression in vain.
Ernest Hemingway1899–1961A Farewell to Arms (1929), Book III, Chapter XXVIIIn context
It is computed that eleven thousand persons have at several times suffered death, rather than submit to break their eggs at the smaller end.
Jonathan Swift1667–1745Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part I: A Voyage to Lilliput, Chapter IVIn context
- Comedy
Poor nations are hungry, and rich nations are proud; and pride and hunger will ever be at variance.
Jonathan Swift1667–1745Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms, Chapter VIn context
- Pride
A soldier is a Yahoo hired to kill, in cold blood, as many of his own species, who have never offended him, as possibly he can.
Jonathan Swift1667–1745Gulliver’s Travels (1726), Part IV: A Voyage to the Country of the Houyhnhnms, Chapter VIn context
We are not youth any longer. We don’t want to take the world by storm. We are fleeing. We fly from ourselves. From our life. We were eighteen and had begun to love life and the world; and we had to shoot it to pieces.
Erich Maria Remarque1898–1970All Quiet on the Western Front (1929), Chapter VIn context
- Youth
It is just as much a matter of chance that I am still alive as that I might have been hit. In a bomb-proof dug-out I may be smashed to atoms and in the open may survive ten hours’ bombardment unscathed. No soldier outlives a thousand chances. But every soldier believes in Chance and trusts his luck.
Erich Maria Remarque1898–1970All Quiet on the Western Front (1929), Chapter VIIn context
- Luck
A word of command has made these silent figures our enemies; a word of command might transform them into our friends.
Erich Maria Remarque1898–1970All Quiet on the Western Front (1929), Chapter VIIIIn context
- Enemies
Why do they never tell us that you are just poor devils like us, that your mothers are just as anxious as ours, and that we have the same fear of death, and the same dying and the same agony⁠—. Forgive me, comrade; how could you be my enemy?
Erich Maria Remarque1898–1970All Quiet on the Western Front (1929), Chapter IXIn context
- Enemies
A hospital alone shows what war is.
Erich Maria Remarque1898–1970All Quiet on the Western Front (1929), Chapter XIn context
- Health
He fell in October 1918, on a day that was so quiet and still on the whole front, that the army report confined itself to the single sentence: All quiet on the Western Front.
Erich Maria Remarque1898–1970All Quiet on the Western Front (1929), Chapter XIIIn context
Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Othello (c. 1604), Act I, Scene II, spoken by OthelloIn context
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more,
Or close the wall up with our English dead.
In peace there’s nothing so becomes a man
As modest stillness and humility;
But when the blast of war blows in our ears,
Then imitate the action of the tiger;
Stiffen the sinews, summon up the blood
William Shakespeare1564–1616Henry V (1599), Act III, Scene I, spoken by King HenryIn context
- Courage
The game’s afoot!
Follow your spirit, and upon this charge
Cry, “God for Harry! England and Saint George!”
William Shakespeare1564–1616Henry V (1599), Act III, Scene I, spoken by King HenryIn context
- Patriotism
We few, we happy few, we band of brothers.
William Shakespeare1564–1616Henry V (1599), Act IV, Scene III, spoken by King HenryIn context
- Courage
- Friendship