--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Every solitary one of these aristocratic…" description: "\"Every solitary one of these aristocratic conspirators and would-be murderers claims to be an arch-patriot; every one of them insists that the war is be..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/eugene-v-debs-7814_antiwar_every-solitary-one-of-these-aristocratic_1251919.jpg" --- # Every solitary one of these aristocratic conspirators and… ![“Every solitary one of these aristocratic conspirators and would-be murderers claims to be an arch-patriot; every one of them insists that the war is being waged to make the world safe for democracy. What humbug! What rot! What false pretense! These autocrats, these tyrants, these red-handed…” quote by Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/eugene-v-debs-7814_antiwar_every-solitary-one-of-these-aristocratic_1251919.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/eugene-v-debs-7814_antiwar_every-solitary-one-of-these-aristocratic_1251919.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/0e2/eugene-v-debs-7814_antiwar_every-solitary-one-of-these-aristocratic_1251919.jpg) > “Every solitary one of these aristocratic conspirators and would-be murderers claims to be an arch-patriot; every one of them insists that the war is being waged to make the world safe for democracy. What humbug! What rot! What false pretense! These autocrats, these tyrants, these red-handed robbers and murderers, the "patriots," while the men who have the courage to stand face to face with them, speak the truth, and fight for their exploited victims-they are the disloyalists and traitors. If this be true, I want to take my place side by side with the traitors in this fight.” [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. Self‑proclaimed patriots justify war to protect democracy, but they are tyrants; true patriots are those who oppose them. **In simple terms:** War rhetoric hides tyranny; real patriots resist. Key Takeaway Support genuine justice over false patriotism. Themes politics war truth patriotism tyranny Mood defiant inspirational Type political philosophical When to use this quote - activism - political debate - civil rights movements - historical analysis Key Concepts propaganda moral courage Questions to Reflect On - How do you distinguish true patriotism? - What risks come with opposing popular narratives? A Different Perspective Patriotic language can mobilize for good causes. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Antiwar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiwar/) [Democracy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/democracy/) [Face to face](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/face-to-face/) [Faces](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/faces/) [Men](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/men/) [Murderer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/murderer/) [Patriot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriot/) [Pretense](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/pretense/) [Red](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/red/) [Side by side](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/side-by-side/) [Solitary](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/solitary/) [Speak the truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/speak-the-truth/) [Traitor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traitor/) [Traitors](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/traitors/) [Tyrants](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tyrants/) [Victim](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/victim/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [World](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/world/) ## Related quotes > [Every one of the aristocratic conspirators and would-be murderers claims to be an arch-patriot; every one of them insists that the war is being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/every-one-of-the-aristocratic-conspirators-and-would-be-murderers/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Murderers. Traitors. You would call upon them to fight? They believe in nothing. They answer to no one.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/aragorn/murderers-traitors-you-would-call-upon-them-to-fight-they-believe-in/) [Aragorn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/aragorn/) > [ As Day and other observers had reported, the slaves were leading very comfortable lives. After this tactic \[slave rebellions in the South\] failed, it… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eustace-mullins/as-day-and-other-observers-had-reported-the-slaves-were-leading-very/) [Eustace Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eustace-mullins/) > [The eye and brain are conspirators, and, like most conspiracies, theirs is negotiated behind closed doors, in the back room, outside of our awareness.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-gilbert/the-eye-and-brain-are-conspirators-and-like-most-conspiracies-theirs/) [Daniel Gilbert](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-gilbert/) > [“A conspiracy is everything that ordinary life is not. It’s the inside game, cold, sure, undistracted, forever closed off to us. We are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/david-grann/a-conspiracy-is-everything-that-ordinary-life-is-not-it-s-the-inside/) [David Grann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/david-grann/) > [The Bible has come under fire for making woman the fall guy in man's cosmic drama. But in casting a male conspirator, the serpent,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/camille-paglia/the-bible-has-come-under-fire-for-making-woman-the-fall-guy-in-man-s/) [Camille Paglia](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/camille-paglia/) > [ There are legions of \[Aquarian, New Age, One World Religion\] conspirators. They are in corporations, universities, and hospitals, on the faculties of public schools,… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marilyn-ferguson/there-are-legions-of-aquarian-new-age-one-world-religion-conspirators/) [Marilyn Ferguson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marilyn-ferguson/) > [To look in the eyes of audiences and see the kind of naughty glee that they got with being on the inside, the audience…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/kevin-spacey/to-look-in-the-eyes-of-audiences-and-see-the-kind-of-naughty-glee/) [Kevin Spacey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/kevin-spacey/) > [If we are on the outside, we assume a conspiracy is the perfect working of a scheme. Silent nameless men with unadorned hearts. A…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/don-delillo/if-we-are-on-the-outside-we-assume-a-conspiracy-is-the-perfect/) [Don DeLillo](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/don-delillo/) > [In fact, I point out that all the conspiracies in history - especially during the last 5000 years - are actually different aspects of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eustace-mullins/in-fact-i-point-out-that-all-the-conspiracies-in-history-especially/) [Eustace Mullins](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eustace-mullins/) > [The best aunts aren't substitute parents, they're co-conspirators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daryl-gregory/the-best-aunts-aren-t-substitute-parents-they-re-co-conspirators/) [Daryl Gregory](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daryl-gregory/) > [“Conspiracy theories tend to depend on conspirators who are unduly evil with genocide or world domination as a motive,”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oscar-auliq-ice/conspiracy-theories-tend-to-depend-on-conspirators-who-are-unduly/) [Oscar Auliq-Ice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oscar-auliq-ice/) > [“They were all whispers now, the two of them, conspirators and thieves.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/catherynne-m-valente/they-were-all-whispers-now-the-two-of-them-conspirators-and-thieves/) [Catherynne M. Valente](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/catherynne-m-valente/) > [The plea of necessity, that eternal argument of all conspirators.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/william-henry-harrison/the-plea-of-necessity-that-eternal-argument-of-all-conspirators/) [William Henry Harrison](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/william-henry-harrison/) > [But we've all ended up giving body and soul to Africa, one way or another. Even Adah, who's becoming an expert in tropical epidemiology…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/barbara-kingsolver/but-we-ve-all-ended-up-giving-body-and-soul-to-africa-one-way-or/) [Barbara Kingsolver](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/barbara-kingsolver/) ## More by Eugene V. Debs > [Too long have the workers of the world waited for some Moses to lead them out of bondage. I would not lead you out…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/too-long-have-the-workers-of-the-world-waited-for-some-moses-to-lead/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [From the crown of my head to the soles of my feet I am Bolshevik, and proud of it.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/from-the-crown-of-my-head-to-the-soles-of-my-feet-i-am-bolshevik-and/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“I left that church with rich and royal hatred of the priest as a person, and a loathing for the church as an institution,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-left-that-church-with-rich-and-royal-hatred-of-the-priest-as-a/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“I have no country to fight for; my country is the earth; I am a citizen of the world.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-have-no-country-to-fight-for-my-country-is-the-earth-i-am-a-citizen/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The class which has the power to rob upon a large scale has also the power to control the government and legalize their robbery.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-class-which-has-the-power-to-rob-upon-a-large-scale-has-also-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Wherever capitalism appears, in pursuit of its mission of exploitation, there will Socialism, fertilized by misery, watered by tears, and vitalized by agitation be…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/wherever-capitalism-appears-in-pursuit-of-its-mission-of-exploitation/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Intelligent discontent is the mainspring of civilization.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/intelligent-discontent-is-the-mainspring-of-civilization/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The Republican and Democratic parties, or, to be more exact, the Republican-Democratic party, represent the capitalist class in the class struggle. They are the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-republican-and-democratic-parties-or-to-be-more-exact-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [I would rather a thousand times be a free soul in jail than to be a sycophant and coward in the streets.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/i-would-rather-a-thousand-times-be-a-free-soul-in-jail-than-to-be-a/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The American people can have anything they want; the trouble is, they don't know what they want.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-american-people-can-have-anything-they-want-the-trouble-is-they/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [Capitalism needs and must have the prison to protect itself from the criminals it has created.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/capitalism-needs-and-must-have-the-prison-to-protect-itself-from-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [“{Letter from Debbs to Eva Ingersoll, husband of Robert Ingersoll , just after the news of Robert's death} We were inexpressibly shocked to hear…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/letter-from-debbs-to-eva-ingersoll-husband-of-robert-ingersoll-just/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The issue is Socialism versus Capitalism. I am for Socialism because I am for humanity. We have been cursed with the reign of gold…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-issue-is-socialism-versus-capitalism-i-am-for-socialism-because-i/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [If you go to the city of Washington, you will find that almost all of those corporation lawyers and cowardly politicians, members of congress,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/if-you-go-to-the-city-of-washington-you-will-find-that-almost-all-of/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) > [The truth has always been dangerous to the rule of the rogue, the exploiter, the robber. So the truth must be supressed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eugene-v-debs/the-truth-has-always-been-dangerous-to-the-rule-of-the-rogue-the/) [Eugene V. Debs](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) [Explore all 87 Eugene V. Debs quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eugene-v-debs/) ## More Antiwar quotes > [In the struggle of good against evil, it's always the people who get killed.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/eduardo-galeano/in-the-struggle-of-good-against-evil-it-s-always-the-people-who-get/) [Eduardo Galeano](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/eduardo-galeano/) > [“... it would be better for our country and the world in general, if at least the few people who were capable of thought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hermann-hesse/it-would-be-better-for-our-country-and-the-world-in-general-if-at/) [Hermann Hesse](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hermann-hesse/) > [In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/napoleon-bonaparte/in-the-eyes-of-empire-builders-men-are-not-men-but-instruments/) [Napoleon Bonaparte](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/napoleon-bonaparte/) > [The statesmen will invent cheap lies, putting the blame upon the nation that is attacked, and every man will be glad of those conscience-soothing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mark-twain/the-statesmen-will-invent-cheap-lies-putting-the-blame-upon-the/) [Mark Twain](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mark-twain/) > [My first wish is to see this plague of mankind banished from the earth, and the sons and daughters of this world employed in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-washington/my-first-wish-is-to-see-this-plague-of-mankind-banished-from-the/) [George Washington](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-washington/) > [The practice of violence, like all action, changes the world, but the most probable change is a more violent world.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/hannah-arendt/the-practice-of-violence-like-all-action-changes-the-world-but-the/) [Hannah Arendt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/hannah-arendt/) > [One reason the United States finds itself at the edge of a foreign policy disaster is its underinformed citizenry, a key weakness in democracy.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/stefan-halper/one-reason-the-united-states-finds-itself-at-the-edge-of-a-foreign/) Stefan Halper > [The worst evils which mankind has ever had to endure were inflicted by bad governments.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ludwig-von-mises/the-worst-evils-which-mankind-has-ever-had-to-endure-were-inflicted/) [Ludwig von Mises](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ludwig-von-mises/) > [You cannot be on one hand dedicated to peace and on the other dedicated to violence. Those two things are irreconcilable.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/condoleezza-rice/you-cannot-be-on-one-hand-dedicated-to-peace-and-on-the-other/) [Condoleezza Rice](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/condoleezza-rice/) > [Free nations don't develop weapons of mass destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-w-bush/free-nations-don-t-develop-weapons-of-mass-destruction/) [George W. Bush](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-w-bush/) > [...Uncalled-for aggression arouses the hatred of the civilian population...](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jean-paul-sartre/uncalled-for-aggression-arouses-the-hatred-of-the-civilian-population/) [Jean-Paul Sartre](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jean-paul-sartre/) > [Studies by Medical Corps psychiatrists of combat fatigue cases... found that fear of killing, rather than fear of being killed, was the most common…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/samuel-lyman-atwood-marshall/studies-by-medical-corps-psychiatrists-of-combat-fatigue-cases-found/) [Samuel Lyman Atwood Marshall](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/samuel-lyman-atwood-marshall/) > [I believe that the entire effort of modern society should be concentrated on the endeavor to outlaw war as a method of the solution…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/i-believe-that-the-entire-effort-of-modern-society-should-be/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [In war, as it is waged now, with the enormous losses on both sides, both sides will lose. It is a form of mutual…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/douglas-macarthur/in-war-as-it-is-waged-now-with-the-enormous-losses-on-both-sides-both/) [Douglas MacArthur](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/douglas-macarthur/) > [Our reluctance for conflict should not be misjudged as a failure of will.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ronald-reagan/our-reluctance-for-conflict-should-not-be-misjudged-as-a-failure-of/) [Ronald Reagan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ronald-reagan/) [Browse all 409 Antiwar quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/antiwar/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Every solitary one of these aristocratic conspirators and would-be murderers claims to be an arch-patriot; every one of them insists that the war is being waged to make the world safe for democracy. What humbug! What rot! What false pretense! These autocrats, these tyrants, these red-handed robbers and murderers, the \"patriots,\" while the men who have the courage to stand face to face with them, speak the truth, and fight for their exploited victims-they are the disloyalists and traitors. If this be true, I want to take my place side by side with the traitors in this fight.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Eugene V. 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