The national interest cannot be defined as a common…
““The national interest cannot be defined as a common interest of the industrial, commercial, and financial companies of a country, because there is no such common interest; nor can it be defined as the life, liberty, and well-being of the citizens, because they are continually being adjured to sacrifice their well-being, their liberty, and their lives to the national interest. In the end a study of modern history leads to the conclusion that the national interest of every State consists in its capacity to make war.””
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
National interest is often a justification for war rather than common welfare.
In simple terms: War drives national policy.
Key Takeaway
Question motives behind policy.
Themes
politics
war
interest
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- activism
- education
Key Concepts
philosophy
international relations
ethics
Questions to Reflect On
- How do you define true national interest?
- What alternatives exist to war?
A Different Perspective
Not all states pursue war.