History Quote by Hannah Arendt
““Of these, only the last, the crime against humanity, was new and unprecedented. Aggressive warfare is at least as old as recorded history, and while it has been denounced as "criminal" many times before, it has never been recognized as such in any formal sense.””
About This Quote
Source Book: The Origins of Totalitarianism, Hannah Arendt, 1951
Notes that aggressive war is ancient, but labeling it a crime against humanity is a modern development.
In simple terms: War is old; criminalizing it is new.
Key Takeaway
Recognize evolving moral standards.
Themes
war
ethics
history
Mood
analytical
thoughtful
Type
philosophical
historical
When to use this quote
- policy making
- education
- media reporting
- legal reform
Key Concepts
international law
human rights
Questions to Reflect On
- How can societies better define war crimes?
- What role should history play in shaping law?
A Different Perspective
Legal definitions lag behind moral awareness.
![“What has happened here [aftermath of 9/11] is not war in its traditional sense. This is clearly a crime against humanity. War crimes are crimes which happen in war time. There is a confusion there. This is a crime against humanity because it is deliberate and intentional killing of large numbers…” quote by Benjamin B. Ferencz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/d6f/benjamin-b-ferencz-43385_aftermath_what-has-happened-here-aftermath-of-9-11_1058536.jpg)
