Barbarism Quote by Alfred de Vigny
“The existence of the soldier, next to capital punishment, is the most grievous vestige of barbarism which survives among men.”
About This Quote
Source Book: Chatterton, 1835
Linking soldiers to capital punishment highlights the barbaric nature of state violence.
In simple terms: War and execution are barbaric.
Key Takeaway
Reject state-sanctioned violence.
Themes
war
capital punishment
human rights
Mood
reflective
critical
Type
philosophical
ethical
When to use this quote
- military policy
- legal reform
- humanitarian advocacy
Key Concepts
barbarism
state power
morality
Questions to Reflect On
- Is all state violence inherently barbaric?
- Can reforms reduce the need for such institutions?
A Different Perspective
Some argue soldiers protect societies, complicating the moral view.
![“That country [Carthage] was rapidly sinking into the state of barbarism from whence it had been raised by the Phoenician colonies and Roman laws; and every step of intestine discord was marked by some deplorable victory of savage man over civilized society.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/70c/edward-gibbon-710_barbarism_that-country-carthage-was-rapidly-sinkin_393.jpg)
![“[Much] as war attracts me and fascinates my mind with its tremendous situations, I feel more deeply every year . . . what vile and wicked folly and barbarism it all is.” quote by Winston Churchill](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/e15/winston-churchill-95_barbarism_much-as-war-attracts-me-and-fascinates-m_68452.jpg)
