Asks Quote by Ernest Hemingway
“An aggressive war is the great crime against everything good in the world. A defensive war, which must necessarily turn to aggressive at the earliest moment, is the necessary great counter-crime. But never think that war, no matter how necessary, nor how justified, is not a crime. Ask the infantry and ask the dead.”
About This Quote
Source Essay: The Nature of War, 1935
War, even when defensive, inevitably becomes aggressive and remains a moral crime, as seen through the suffering of soldiers and the dead.
In simple terms: War is a crime, even if defensive.
Key Takeaway
Treat war as a profound moral failure.
Themes
war
ethics
violence
humanity
morality
Mood
somber
critical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
inspirational
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- military training
- peace activism
- historical analysis
Key Concepts
just war theory
military ethics
human cost
Questions to Reflect On
- Can any war be truly justified?
- How do we honor the dead while preventing future wars?
A Different Perspective
Defensive wars often turn aggressive, blurring moral distinctions.
![“[Every] hour of delay abates the fame and force of the invader, and multiplies the resources of defensive war.” quote by Edward Gibbon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/4de/edward-gibbon-710_delay_every-hour-of-delay-abates-the-fame-and_94668.jpg)
