Army Quote by Charles Bukowski
“There are no good wars or bad wars. The only thing bad about a war is to lose it. All wars have been fought for a so-called good Cause on both sides. But only the victor's Cause becomes history's Noble Cause. It's not a matter of who is right or who is wrong, it's a matter of who has the best generals and the better army!”
About This Quote
Source Poem: The War, Charles Bukowski, 1978
Wars are morally ambiguous; victory determines historical narrative, not ethical truth.
In simple terms: War’s morality is complex.
Key Takeaway
Question narratives of conflict.
Themes
war
history
truth
power
propaganda
Mood
critical
skeptical
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- political debates
- education
- media analysis
Key Concepts
ethical relativism
political power
historical revisionism
Questions to Reflect On
- How do we discern truth in war?
- What role does power play in moral judgments?
A Different Perspective
Victors shape history, not facts.
![“I can't imagine that I would be asked that by the president-elect [Donald Trump], or then-president [Barack Obama]. But it's - I'm very clear. I voted for the change that put the Army Field Manual in place as a member of Congress. I understand that law very, very quickly and am also deeply aware…” quote by James Mattis](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/761/james-mattis-9515_army_i-can-t-imagine-that-i-would-be-asked-th_3990.jpg)
