--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: A war for a great principle ennobles a…" description: "\"A war for a great principle ennobles a nation. A war for commercial supremacy, upon some shallow pretext, is despicable.\" — Albert Pike" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/albert-pike-4863_freemason_a-war-for-a-great-principle-ennobles-a-n_1742961.jpg" --- # A war for a great principle ennobles a nation. A war for… ![“A war for a great principle ennobles a nation. A war for commercial supremacy, upon some shallow pretext, is despicable.” quote by Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/albert-pike-4863_freemason_a-war-for-a-great-principle-ennobles-a-n_1742961.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/albert-pike-4863_freemason_a-war-for-a-great-principle-ennobles-a-n_1742961.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/1e2/albert-pike-4863_freemason_a-war-for-a-great-principle-ennobles-a-n_1742961.jpg) > “A war for a great principle ennobles a nation. A war for commercial supremacy, upon some shallow pretext, is despicable.” [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. It distinguishes noble wars fought for ideals from wars driven by profit, condemning the latter as immoral. **In simple terms:** Principle wars are noble; profit wars are despicable. Key Takeaway Support just causes, reject greed. Themes ethics politics war Mood critical thoughtful Type philosophical political When to use this quote - policy debates - activism - military decisions Key Concepts philosophy history Questions to Reflect On - What defines a “great principle”? - How can societies avoid profit‑driven conflicts? A Different Perspective Complex geopolitics blur motives. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Freemason](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freemason/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) ## Related quotes > [A war for a great principle ennobles a nation. A war for commercial supremacy, upon some shallow pretext, is despicable, and more than aught…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/a-war-for-a-great-principle-ennobles-a-nation-a-war-for-commercial-2/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [A war for a great principle ennobles a nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/a-war-for-a-great-principle-ennobles-a-nation/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [We are a nation at war - and we should act like it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-are-a-nation-at-war-and-we-should-act-like-it/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Any method which appears to offer advantages to a nation at war will be vigorously employed by that nation. There is but one logical…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-merck/any-method-which-appears-to-offer-advantages-to-a-nation-at-war-will/) George W. Merck > [We are a nation at war. This is also a time for hard choices. It's about ensuring that we are able to prevail in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/leon-panetta/we-are-a-nation-at-war-this-is-also-a-time-for-hard-choices-it-s/) [Leon Panetta](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leon-panetta/) > [Every nation has its war party... It is commercial, imperialistic, ruthless. It tolerates no opposition.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/every-nation-has-its-war-party-it-is-commercial-imperialistic/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [To have good soldiers, a nation must always be at war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/to-have-good-soldiers-a-nation-must-always-be-at-war/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [When one nation is at war with another nation, the political machine does everything it can to vilify the people of the other nation,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexander-siddig/when-one-nation-is-at-war-with-another-nation-the-political-machine/) [Alexander Siddig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexander-siddig/) > [There is no bigger judgment for a president of the United States than how you take a nation to war.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-f-kerry/there-is-no-bigger-judgment-for-a-president-of-the-united-states-than/) [John F. Kerry](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-f-kerry/) > [The one great principle of English law is to make business for itself.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-one-great-principle-of-english-law-is-to-make-business-for-itself/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [The one great principle of the English law is, to make business for itself. There is no other principle distinctly, certainly, and consistently maintained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-one-great-principle-of-the-english-law-is-to-make-business-for-2/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) > [When you cannot answer a skeptic, be content to wait for more light; but never forsake a great principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/j-c-ryle/when-you-cannot-answer-a-skeptic-be-content-to-wait-for-more-light/) [J. C. Ryle](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/j-c-ryle/) > [There is a great deal in a name. It often signifies much, and may involve a great principle.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-cady-stanton/there-is-a-great-deal-in-a-name-it-often-signifies-much-and-may/) [Elizabeth Cady Stanton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-cady-stanton/) > [I deny the right of Congress to force a slaveholding State upon an unwilling people. I deny their right to force a free State…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stephen-a-douglas/i-deny-the-right-of-congress-to-force-a-slaveholding-state-upon-an/) [Stephen A. Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/stephen-a-douglas/) > [The one great principle of the English law is, to make business for itself. There is no other principle distinctly, certainly, and consistently maintained…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/charles-dickens/the-one-great-principle-of-the-english-law-is-to-make-business-for/) [Charles Dickens](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/charles-dickens/) ## More by Albert Pike > [A war for a great principle ennobles a nation.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/a-war-for-a-great-principle-ennobles-a-nation/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [The doctrines of the Bible are often not clothed in the language of strict truth, but in that which was fittest to convey to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-doctrines-of-the-bible-are-often-not-clothed-in-the-language-of/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [If the Soul sees, after death , what passes on this earth , and watches over the welfare of those it loves, then must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/if-the-soul-sees-after-death-what-passes-on-this-earth-and-watches/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [The double law of attraction and radiation or of sympathy and antipathy, of fixedness and movement, which is the principle of Creation, and the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-double-law-of-attraction-and-radiation-or-of-sympathy-and/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Death is the inseparable antecedent of life; the seed dies in order to produce the plant, and earth itself is rent asunder and dies…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/death-is-the-inseparable-antecedent-of-life-the-seed-dies-in-order-to/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [We are all naturally seekers of wonders. We travel far to see the majesty of old ruins, the venerable forms of the hoary mountains,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/we-are-all-naturally-seekers-of-wonders-we-travel-far-to-see-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [The Blue Degrees are but the outer court...of the temple. Part of the symbols are displayed there to the initiate, but he is intentionally…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-blue-degrees-are-but-the-outer-court-of-the-temple-part-of-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Virtue is but heroic bravery, to do the thing thought to be true, in spite of all enemies of flesh or spirit, in despite…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/virtue-is-but-heroic-bravery-to-do-the-thing-thought-to-be-true-in/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [“The freest people, like the freest man, is always in danger of re-lapsing into servitude. Wars are almost always fatal to Republics. They create…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/the-freest-people-like-the-freest-man-is-always-in-danger-of-re/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [Know thou the self (spirit) as riding in a chariot, The body as the chariot. Know thou the intellect as the chariot-driver, And the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/know-thou-the-self-spirit-as-riding-in-a-chariot-the-body-as-the/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [There are great truths at the foundation of Freemasonry, truths which it is its mission to teach and which is constituting the very essence…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/there-are-great-truths-at-the-foundation-of-freemasonry-truths-which/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [That which causes us trials shall yield us triumph: and that which make our hearts ache shall fill us with gladness. The only true…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/that-which-causes-us-trials-shall-yield-us-triumph-and-that-which/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [That which we say and do, if its effects last not beyond our lives, is unimportant.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/that-which-we-say-and-do-if-its-effects-last-not-beyond-our-lives-is/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [War is a series of catastrophes which result in victory.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/war-is-a-series-of-catastrophes-which-result-in-victory/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) > [“Religion would, in many points, not be comprehended by the ignorant, nor consolatory to them, nor guiding and supporting for them. The doctrines of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/albert-pike/religion-would-in-many-points-not-be-comprehended-by-the-ignorant-nor/) [Albert Pike](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) [Explore all 105 Albert Pike quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/albert-pike/) ## More Freemason quotes > [“The taste of blood and that annoying sting of a bitten tongue. Once man got the taste of blood there was no going back,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/the-taste-of-blood-and-that-annoying-sting-of-a-bitten-tongue-once/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [“Above all, the most important tradition of a Freemason is self improvement. The improvement of the individual is the most fundamental aspect of improving…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cliff-porter/above-all-the-most-important-tradition-of-a-freemason-is-self/) Cliff Porter > [“William Wirt, first presidential candidate of the Anti-Masonic party was, in fact, a Freemason.  He even defended the order in his acceptance speech at…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/steven-l-harrison/william-wirt-first-presidential-candidate-of-the-anti-masonic-party/) [Steven L. Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/steven-l-harrison/) > [“To enlarge the sphere of social happiness is worthy of the benevolent design of a Masonic institution; and it is most fervently to be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/to-enlarge-the-sphere-of-social-happiness-is-worthy-of-the-benevolent/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [People think I'm a freemason, and I'm not. People think I believe the end of the world is coming on 21 December 2012, and I don't.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/graham-hancock/people-think-i-m-a-freemason-and-i-m-not-people-think-i-believe-the/) [Graham Hancock](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/graham-hancock/) > [Freemasonry is an ancient and respectable institution, embracing individuals of every nation, of every religion, and of every condition in life. Wealth, power and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/freemasonry-is-an-ancient-and-respectable-institution-embracing/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [“If you want to accurately judge the spiritual level of any human being, count the number of religions that he is capable of understanding…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/if-you-want-to-accurately-judge-the-spiritual-level-of-any-human/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [The essence of independence has been to think and act according to standards from within, not without. Inevitably anyone with an independent mind must…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aleister-crowley/the-essence-of-independence-has-been-to-think-and-act-according-to-2/) [Aleister Crowley](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aleister-crowley/) > [“Motivation gets you started, and inspiration keeps you going.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/motivation-gets-you-started-and-inspiration-keeps-you-going/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [“One day at a time, one round at a time, one step at time.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brandon-garic-notch/one-day-at-a-time-one-round-at-a-time-one-step-at-time/) [Brandon Garic Notch](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brandon-garic-notch/) > [“To be rejected by a freemason, buddhist, christian or rosicrucian feels like being rejected by children in a kindergarten. Many, but not all, are…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robin-sacredfire/to-be-rejected-by-a-freemason-buddhist-christian-or-rosicrucian-feels/) [Robin Sacredfire](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robin-sacredfire/) > [I'm a Freemason, and we love to celebrate Burns' night: piping in the haggis, the whole lot.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rick-wakeman/i-m-a-freemason-and-we-love-to-celebrate-burns-night-piping-in-the/) [Rick Wakeman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rick-wakeman/) > [“The true Mason is not creed-bound. He realizes with the divine illumination of his lodge that as Mason his religion must be universal: Christ,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/manly-p-hall/the-true-mason-is-not-creed-bound-he-realizes-with-the-divine/) [Manly P. Hall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/manly-p-hall/) > [“A man who claims to be 32 degrees is one freezing freemason. That man must make love with all the warmth of a shadowy secret.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jarod-kintz/a-man-who-claims-to-be-32-degrees-is-one-freezing-freemason-that-man/) [Jarod Kintz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jarod-kintz/) > [They use silent weapons for quiet wars.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bill-cooper/they-use-silent-weapons-for-quiet-wars/) Bill Cooper [Browse all 25 Freemason quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/freemason/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "A war for a great principle ennobles a nation. 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