Aggression Quote by Charles Caleb Colton
“All wars of interference, arising from an officious intrusion into the concerns of other states; all wars of ambition, carried on for the purposes of aggrandizement; and all wars of aggression, undertaken for the purpose of forcing an assent to this or that set of religious opinions; all such wars are criminal in their very outset, and have hypocrisy for their common base.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: Thoughts on War, 1820
War driven by interference, ambition, or religious coercion is fundamentally criminal and hypocritical.
In simple terms: Wars for power or faith are immoral and hypocritical.
Key Takeaway
Reject wars that serve selfish or doctrinal goals.
Themes
war
ethics
politics
religion
Mood
critical
thought‑provoking
Type
political
philosophical
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- peace activism
- education
- diplomacy
Key Concepts
just war theory
hypocrisy
Questions to Reflect On
- What criteria define a just war?
- How can societies prevent war‑driven hypocrisy?
A Different Perspective
Not all conflicts fit these categories; some may be defensive.
![“I think at the moment we did not even want to break the seal [on the inner chamber of the tomb of Tutankhamen], for a feeling of intrusion had descended heavily upon us... We felt that we were in the presence of the dead King and must do him reverence, and in imagination could see the doors of the…” quote by Howard Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/0d9/howard-carter-27604_break_i-think-at-the-moment-we-did-not-even-wa_166704.jpg)
![“Now they [the Powers] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield to them, I would have no face to see our ancestors after death. If we must perish, why not fight to the death?” quote by Empress Dowager Cixi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/947/empress-dowager-cixi-68177_after-death_now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-agg_53275.jpg)
