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In every treaty, insert a clause which can be easily violated, so that the entire agreement can be broken in the case the interests of the State make it expedient to do so.
— Louis XIV (1638-1717), King of France, on the origin of the signing clause
The fact that an opinion has been widely held is no evidence that it is not utterly absurd; indeed in view of the silliness of the majority of mankind, a widespread belief is more often likely to be foolish than sensible.
— Bertrand Russell (1872-1970), British mathematician, philosopher
We are advocates for the abolition of war; we do not want war, but war can only be abolished through war, and in order to get rid of the gun it is necessary to take up the gun. When classes and states are eliminated there will be no more wars.
— Mao Zedong (1893-1976), Founder, Chinese Communist State
You have got our country, but are not satisfied; you want to force your religion upon us. Brother, you say there is but one way to worship and serve the Great Spirit. If there is but one religion, why do you white people differ so much about it?
— Red Jacket (Sagoyewatha) (c.1758-1830), Seneca Indian chief, in a reply to a missionary during the Council of Chiefs of the Six Nations
The tendencies of democracies are, in all things, to mediocrity, since the tastes, knowledge and principles of the majority form the tribunal of appeal.
— Jame Fennimore Cooper (1789-1851), American novelist
Eternal peace is a dream, and not even a beautiful one, and war is a part of God’s world order. In it are developed the noblest virtues of man — courage and abnegation, dutifulness and self-sacrifice at the risk of life. Without war the world would sink into materialism.
— Helmuth von Moltke (1800-1891), Prussian field marshal
A wise and courageous prince, with money, troops and laws, can perfectly well govern men without the aid of religion, which was made only to deceive them; but the stupid people would soon make one for themselves, and as long as there are fools and rascals there will be religions. Ours is assuredly the most ridiculous, the most absurd and the most bloody that has ever infected the world.
— Voltaire (1694-1778), French philosopher
Terror is nought but prompt, severe, inflexible justice; it is therefore an emanation of virtue; it is less a particular principle than a consequence of the general principle of democracy applied to the pressing needs of the fatherland.
— Maximilien Marie Isidore de Robespierre (1758- guillotined 1794), French revolutionist
Materialists and madmen never have doubts.
— G.K. Chesterton (1874-1936), British essayist, novelist
To be governed is to have every opinion, every transaction, every movement noted, registered, counted, rated, stamped, measured, numbered, assessed, licensed, refused, authorized, endorsed, admonished, prevented, reformed, redressed, corrected.
— Pierre Joseph Proudhon (1809-1865), Socialist, spiritual founder French Labor Movement
