Quote by John Stuart Mill
War is an ugly thing, but not the ugliest of things. The decayed and degraded state of moral and patriotic feeling which thinks that nothing is worth war is much worse.
Summary
This quote suggests that while war is undoubtedly a terrible and ugly occurrence, there are even worse things - namely, the decline of moral values and patriotism in a society that believes nothing is worth fighting for. It implies that having a complete disregard for the values and principles worth defending is a far more detrimental state to be in than engaging in warfare. Essentially, the quote encourages reflection on the importance of upholding moral and patriotic ideals, even in the face of the horrors of war.