Affair Quote by Carl von Clausewitz
“In 1793 such a force as no one had any conception of made its appearance. War had again suddenly become an affair of the people, and that of a people numbering thirty millions, every one of whom regarded himself as a citizen of the State... By this participation of the people in the war... a whole Nation with its natural weight came into the scale.”
About This Quote
Source Book: On War, 1832
War became a mass phenomenon, with millions feeling citizenship and responsibility, shifting its nature to a national affair.
In simple terms: War turned into a people's war, involving many citizens.
Key Takeaway
Recognize war's societal scale and impact.
Themes
war
citizenship
nationalism
Mood
analytical
historical
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- military history
- political science
- education
- public discourse
Key Concepts
mass mobilization
state power
public sentiment
Questions to Reflect On
- How does mass participation change war's character?
- What are the limits of citizen involvement?
A Different Perspective
It may overlook individual experiences within mass movements.
![“Rather than comparing [war] to art we could more accurately compare it to commerce, which is also a conflict of human interests and activities; and it is still closer to politics, which in turn may be considered as a kind of commerce on a larger scale.” quote by Carl von Clausewitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/c35/carl-von-clausewitz-2060_activity_rather-than-comparing-war-to-art-we-coul_21236.jpg)
