“There are some who object to war because of its immorality, there are some who shrink from the arbitrament of arms because of its increased cruelty and barbarity; there are a growing number who protest against this method, at the outset known to be unsuccessful, of attempting to settle international disputes because of its imbecility and futility. But there is not a living soul in any country who does not deeply resent having his passions roused, his indignation inflamed, his patriotism exploited, and his highest ideals desecrated by concealment, subterfuge, fraud, falsehood, trickery, and deliberate lying on the part of those in whom he is taught to repose confidence and to whom he is enjoined to pay respect.”
Falsehood in Wartime (1928), Introduction
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Arthur Ponsonby 31
British Liberal and later Labour politician and pacifist 1871–1946Related quotes
Picasso (1938)
“He who reckons his own soul is successful; he who is heedless of it is unsuccessful.”
Muhammad Kulayni, Usūl al-Kāfī, vol.2, p. 111.
Religious Wisdom
Source: Dialogue Concerning the Two Chief World Systems (1632), p. 322
Context: In the long run my observations have convinced me that some men, reasoning preposterously, first establish some conclusion in their minds which, either because of its being their own or because of their having received it from some person who has their entire confidence, impresses them so deeply that one finds it impossible ever to get it out of their heads. Such arguments in support of their fixed idea as they hit upon themselves or hear set forth by others, no matter how simple and stupid these may be, gain their instant acceptance and applause. On the other hand whatever is brought forward against it, however ingenious and conclusive, they receive with disdain or with hot rage — if indeed it does not make them ill. Beside themselves with passion, some of them would not be backward even about scheming to suppress and silence their adversaries.
No. 104 (16 March 1751)
The Rambler (1750–1752)
On Christmas http://books.google.com/books?id=TXDGeEkIN6oC&q=%22There+are+some+people+who+want+to+throw+their+arms+round+you+simply+because+it+is+Christmas+there+are+other+people+who+want+to+strangle+you+simply+because+it+is+Christmas%22&pg=PA85#v=onepage, The Book of This and That (1915)
Speech, "Love of God, Love of Man, Love of Country" http://www.teachingamericanhistory.org/library/index.asp?document=535, Syracuse, New York (September 24, 1847)
1840s, Love of God, Love of Man, Love of Country (1847)
“It is the duty of every patriot to protect his country from its government.”
Edward Abbey, "A patriot must always be ready to defend his country against his government." as written in "A Voice Crying in the Wilderness" (Vox Clamantis en Deserto): Notes from a Secret Journal (1990), ISBN 0312064888.
Misattributed
"The Scientific Basis of Fascism", in Political Science Quarterly, Vol. 42 (Academy of Political Science, 1927), p. 104.