War is delightful to those who have never experienced it.
- Desiderius Erasmus, Dulce bellum inexpertis, 1515
Warre is alwayes a physick too strong, which entring the body with a force greater than the infirmity, must needs increase the distemper, and like thunder purging the bad qualities, corrupt the good.
- Anthony Ashcam, A Discourse wherein is examined, what is particularly lawfull
during confusions and revolutions of government, (1648)
There never was a good war or a bad peace.
- Benjamin Franklin, Letter to Josiah Quincy, September 11, 1773
War's a game, which, were their subjects wise, kings would not play at.
- William Cowper, "The Winter Morning Walk," 1783
My first wish is to see this plague to mankind banished from off the Earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in more pleasing and innocent amusements than in preparing implements and exercising them for the destruction of mankind.
- George Washington, speaking of war, letter to David Humphreys, July 25, 1785
War is Hell.
- William Tecumseh Sherman, speech of August 11, 1880, Columbus, Ohio
War is a contagion.
- Franklin Delano Roosevelt, speech of October 5, 1937, Chicago
I hate war as only a soldier who has lived it can, only as one who has seen its brutality, its futility, its stupidity.
- Dwight Eisenhower, speech of January 10, 1946, Ottawa, Canada
War. What is it good for? Absolutely nothing.
- Edwin Starr, "War" (song, 1970)