John le Carré: Quotes about war

John le Carré is British novelist and spy. Explore interesting quotes on war.

John le Carré: 84 quotes4 likes

“We were not faced (in the cold war) in a conflict with people who are prepared to die for their cause. We weren't in conflict with people whose idea is to kill as many as they could.”

Radio interview (November 2008)

“In the war on terror we did everything wrong that we could have done.”

Radio interview (November 2008)

“There is a big difference between fighting the cold war and fighting radical Islam. The rules have changed and we haven't.”

Radio interview (November 2008)

“You can't make war against terror. Terror is a technique of battle. It's a tactic that has been employed since time immemorial. You can conduct clandestine action against terrorists, and that must be done.”

Radio interview (November 2008)

“This is a war," Leamas replied. "It's graphic and unpleasant because it's fought on a tiny scale, at close range; fought with a wastage of innocent life sometimes, I admit. But it's nothing, nothing at all beside other wars – the last or the next.”

The Spy Who Came In From the Cold (1963)