“Every war is ironic because every war is worse than expected. Every war constitutes an irony of situation because its means are so melodramatically disproportionate to its presumed ends.”

Source: The Great War and Modern Memory

Last update June 3, 2021. History

Help us to complete the source, original and additional information

Do you have more details about the quote "Every war is ironic because every war is worse than expected. Every war constitutes an irony of situation because its m…" by Paul Fussell?
Paul Fussell photo
Paul Fussell 15
Recipient of the Purple Heart medal 1924–2012

Related quotes

Käthe Kollwitz photo
Peter Ustinov photo

“We have fought two wars to end war. In 1976, the nations of this world set aside the same amount of money for its starving children as the lavished on armaments every two hours.”

Dear Me (1977)
Context: We have fought two wars to end war. In 1976, the nations of this world set aside the same amount of money for its starving children as the lavished on armaments every two hours. Can any right-minded man afford to be a pessimist? That was a luxury for easier days. <!-- p. 167

“In the end, in every war,
whoever won, the people always lost.”

Nguyễn Duy (1948)

"Oh Stone" (Cambodia, 1989)
Distant Road (1999)

Sun Tzu photo

“Secret operations are essential in war; upon them the army relies to make its every move.”

Sun Tzu (-543–-495 BC) ancient Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher from the Zhou Dynasty

Source: The Art of War, Chapter XIII · Intelligence and Espionage

Mitsumasa Yonai photo
Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi photo

“…Do not think the war that we are waging is the Islamic State’s war alone. Rather, it is the Muslims’ war altogether. It is the war of every Muslim in every place, and the Islamic State is merely the spearhead in this war. It is but the war of the people of faith against the people of disbelief…”

Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi (1971–2019) leader of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

As quoted in "Isis leader Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi resurfaces in audio urging supporters to join terror group", Independent (15 May 2015)
2014, 2015
Source: http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/middle-east/isis-leader-abu-bakr-al-baghdadi-resurfaces-in-audio-urging-supporters-to-join-terror-group-10251955.html

Warren Farrell photo

“Why did virtually every culture reward its men for enduring violence? So it would have a cadre of people available to protect it in war.”

Warren Farrell (1943) author, spokesperson, expert witness, political candidate

Women Can't Hear What Men Don't Say (2000)

James Madison photo

“Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other.”

James Madison (1751–1836) 4th president of the United States (1809 to 1817)

"Political Observations" (1795-04-20); also in Letters and Other Writings of James Madison http://archive.org/stream/lettersandotherw04madiiala#page/490/mode/2up (1865), Vol. IV, p. 491
1790s
Context: Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended; its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force, of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war, and in the degeneracy of manners and of morals engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.

Meg Rosoff photo

“Every war has turning points and every person too.”

Source: How I Live Now

“Every battle, every war - is fought for things worth dying for.”

Arthur M. Jolly (1969) American writer

Lieutenant
Every Battle, Every War (2007)

Related topics