Quote by John Stuart Mill, "First publish
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things: the decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks nothing worth a war, is worse. When a people are used as mere human instruments for firing cannon or thrusting bayonets, in the service and for the selfish purposes of a master, such war degrades a people. A war to protect other human beings against tyrannical injustice; a war to give victory to their own ideas of right and good, and which is their own war, carried on for an honest purpose by their free choice,
Summary
This quote by John Stuart Mill suggests that while war is certainly unpleasant, the erosion of moral and patriotic sentiments that render a society indifferent to the pursuit of justice and freedom is even worse. When people are treated as mere tools for the selfish ambitions of their leaders, a war can degrade the very essence of a nation. However, Mill argues that a war fought to protect people from tyrannical injustice and to uphold their own values of what is right and good, chosen freely and pursued with honest intentions, can be a just and honorable cause.
Topics
War
Liked the quote? Share it with your friends.
