America could carry on a two years' war by the…
“America could carry on a two years' war by the confiscation of the property of disaffected persons, and be made happy by their expulsion. Say not that this is revenge, call it rather the soft resentment of a suffering people, who, having no object in view but the good of all, have staked their own all upon a seemingly doubtful event. Yet it is folly to argue against determined hardness; eloquence may strike the ear, and the language of sorrow draw forth the tear of compassion, but nothing can reach the heart that is steeled with prejudice.”
About This Quote
This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation.
The author argues that a nation can sustain war by seizing property of dissenters, framing it as collective suffering rather than revenge, but acknowledges that prejudice resists compassionate appeals.
In simple terms: War can be funded by confiscating dissenters' assets, but prejudice blocks empathy.
Key Takeaway
Recognize how prejudice can blind societies to moral arguments.
Themes
war
politics
prejudice
economics
ethics
Mood
somber
reflective
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- revolutionary funding
- civil conflict
- government policy
- public persuasion
Key Concepts
property seizure
collective suffering
hardness of heart
Questions to Reflect On
- How does prejudice shape policy decisions?
- Can compassion overcome entrenched bias?
A Different Perspective
Hardness of heart may outweigh rational arguments.