--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: It would be well to realize that the talk…" description: "\"“It would be well to realize that the talk of ‘humane methods of warfare’, of the ‘rules of civilized warfare’, and all such homage to the finer sentim..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-connolly-16823_aggression_it-would-be-well-to-realize-that-the-tal_3157543.jpg" --- # It would be well to realize that the talk of ‘humane… ![“It would be well to realize that the talk of ‘humane methods of warfare’, of the ‘rules of civilized warfare’, and all such homage to the finer sentiments of the race are hypocritical and unreal, and only intended for the consumption of stay-at-homes. There are no humane methods of warfare, there…” quote by James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-connolly-16823_aggression_it-would-be-well-to-realize-that-the-tal_3157543.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-connolly-16823_aggression_it-would-be-well-to-realize-that-the-tal_3157543.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/f29/james-connolly-16823_aggression_it-would-be-well-to-realize-that-the-tal_3157543.jpg) > ““It would be well to realize that the talk of ‘humane methods of warfare’, of the ‘rules of civilized warfare’, and all such homage to the finer sentiments of the race are hypocritical and unreal, and only intended for the consumption of stay-at-homes. There are no humane methods of warfare, there is no such thing as civilized warfare; all warfare is inhuman, all warfare is barbaric; the first blast of the bugles of war ever sounds for the time being the funeral knell of human progress… What lover of humanity can view with anything but horror the prospect of this ruthless destruction of human life. Yet this is war: war for which all the jingoes are howling, war to which all the hopes of the world are being sacrificed, war to which a mad ruling class would plunge a mad world.”” [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. War is inherently brutal; claims of humane or civilized warfare are false and serve propaganda. **In simple terms:** War is always brutal. Key Takeaway Reject romanticizing war. Themes war humanity propaganda Mood somber critical Type philosophical political When to use this quote - Military policy - diplomatic negotiations - public opinion - peace activism Key Concepts Moral philosophy political critique ethics of conflict Questions to Reflect On - Can any conflict be truly humane? - What responsibilities do societies have to prevent war? A Different Perspective Might overlook defensive wars' complexities. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aggression](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) [Civilized](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized/) [Civilized Warfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/civilized-warfare-1890377/) [Death](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/death/) [Destruction](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/destruction/) [Elite](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/elite/) [Human life](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-life/) [Human progress](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/human-progress/) [Humanity](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/humanity/) [Hypocrisy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocrisy/) [Hypocritical Unreal](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/hypocritical-unreal-5694295/) [Inhuman Warfare](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/inhuman-warfare-5694292/) [Jingoism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/jingoism/) [Mad world](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/mad-world/) [Madness](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/madness/) [Morality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/morality/) [Peace](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/peace/) [Reality](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reality/) [Ruling class](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ruling-class/) [Truth](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/truth/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Warfare Barbaric](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warfare-barbaric-5694294/) [Warfare Inhuman](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/warfare-inhuman-5694293/) [Ww1](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ww1/) ## Related quotes > [I have never witnessed on any previous occasion such entire disregard of the usage of civilized warfare and the dictates of humanity.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-e-lee/i-have-never-witnessed-on-any-previous-occasion-such-entire-disregard/) [Robert E. Lee](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-e-lee/) > [“This is the key to understanding the difference between indigenous and civilized warfare: Even in warfare the indigenous maintain relationships with their honored enemy.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/derrick-jensen/this-is-the-key-to-understanding-the-difference-between-indigenous/) [Derrick Jensen](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/derrick-jensen/) > [“This is a story about understanding overcoming compulsion, love overcoming revulsion; and oneness overcoming abuse. 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Around her…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/helen-zenna-smith/her-soul-died-that-night-under-a-radiant-silver-moon-in-the-spring-of/) [Helen Zenna Smith](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/helen-zenna-smith/) > [“This is what is called dying for your country, but it is actually selling your soul to a few profiteers for a shilling, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/peter-hart/this-is-what-is-called-dying-for-your-country-but-it-is-actually/) [Peter Hart](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/peter-hart/) > [“Nation will rise against nation and kingdom against kingdom … These are the beginnings of sorrows.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/cynthia-harrod-eagles/nation-will-rise-against-nation-and-kingdom-against-kingdom-these-are/) [Cynthia Harrod-Eagles](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/cynthia-harrod-eagles/) > [“If you are not a Conchie, what are you man?' demanded the Major. After some moments' thought, Francis said, 'I am a human being…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/theresa-breslin/if-you-are-not-a-conchie-what-are-you-man-demanded-the-major-after/) [Theresa Breslin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/theresa-breslin/) > [“In 1917 I was only beginning to learn that life, for the majority of the population, is an unlovely struggle against unfair odds, culminating…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/siegfried-sassoon/in-1917-i-was-only-beginning-to-learn-that-life-for-the-majority-of/) [Siegfried Sassoon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/siegfried-sassoon/) > [“Marvelous, isn’t it, how these Germans can shoot back at us even when they’re fucking dead.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ken-follett/marvelous-isn-t-it-how-these-germans-can-shoot-back-at-us-even-when/) [Ken Follett](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ken-follett/) > [“… the white stain of chalk mixed with the clay topsoil zigzagging across the freshly-turned earth, the tell-tale marks of the German trenches from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anthony-price/the-white-stain-of-chalk-mixed-with-the-clay-topsoil-zigzagging/) [Anthony Price](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anthony-price/) > [“The great rich nation had made triumphant war, suffered enough for poignancy but not enough for bitterness - hence the carnival, the feasting, the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/f-scott-fitzgerald/the-great-rich-nation-had-made-triumphant-war-suffered-enough-for/) [F. Scott Fitzgerald](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/f-scott-fitzgerald/) > [“As Ramses did the same for his mother, he saw that her eyes were fixed on him. She had been unusually silent. She had…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-peters/as-ramses-did-the-same-for-his-mother-he-saw-that-her-eyes-were-fixed/) [Elizabeth Peters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-peters/) > [“No thanky-you; you can't overcome hatred with more hatred. Force can kill the liar but not the lie, the hater but not the hate,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joss-sheldon/no-thanky-you-you-can-t-overcome-hatred-with-more-hatred-force-can/) [Joss Sheldon](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joss-sheldon/) ## More by James Connolly > [The cause of Labour is the cause of Ireland, and the cause of Ireland is the cause of Labour](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/the-cause-of-labour-is-the-cause-of-ireland-and-the-cause-of-ireland/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [The Irishman in English literature may be said to have been born with an apology in his mouth.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/the-irishman-in-english-literature-may-be-said-to-have-been-born-with/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [The Irish Republic must be made a word to conjure with - a rallying point for the disaffected, a haven for the oppressed, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/the-irish-republic-must-be-made-a-word-to-conjure-with-a-rallying/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [Whoop it up for liberty! After Ireland is free, says the patriot who won't touch socialism, we will protect all classes, and if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/whoop-it-up-for-liberty-after-ireland-is-free-says-the-patriot-who/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [Such a scheme.. the betrayal of the national democracy of Industrial Ulster, would mean a carnival of reaction both North and South, would set…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/such-a-scheme-the-betrayal-of-the-national-democracy-of-industrial/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [If you strike at, imprison, or kill us, out of our prisons or graves we will still evoke a spirit that will thwart you,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/if-you-strike-at-imprison-or-kill-us-out-of-our-prisons-or-graves-we/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [The Irishman frees himself from slavery when he realizes the truth that the capitalist system is the most foreign thing in Ireland. The Irish…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/the-irishman-frees-himself-from-slavery-when-he-realizes-the-truth/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [However it may be for others, for us of the Citizen Army there is but one ideal - an Ireland ruled, and owned, by…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/however-it-may-be-for-others-for-us-of-the-citizen-army-there-is-but/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [We who hold his (Wolfe Tone) principles believe that any movement which would successfully grapple with the problem of national freedom must draw its…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/we-who-hold-his-wolfe-tone-principles-believe-that-any-movement-which/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [Without the power of the Industrial Union behind it, Democracy can only enter the State as the victim enters the gullet of the Serpent.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/without-the-power-of-the-industrial-union-behind-it-democracy-can/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [Just as it is true that a stream cannot rise above its source, so it is true that a national literature cannot rise above…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/just-as-it-is-true-that-a-stream-cannot-rise-above-its-source-so-it/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [Yes, friends, governments in capitalist society are but committees of the rich to manage the affairs of the capitalist class.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/yes-friends-governments-in-capitalist-society-are-but-committees-of/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [ Irish tory employers hid\[e\] their sweatshops behind orange flags, and Irish home rule landlords us\[e\] the green sunburst of Erin to cloak their rack-renting… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/irish-tory-employers-hid-e-their-sweatshops-behind-orange-flags-and/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [All these mountains of Irish dead, all these corpses mangled beyond recognition, all these arms, legs, eyes, ears, fingers, toes, hands, all these shivering…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/all-these-mountains-of-irish-dead-all-these-corpses-mangled-beyond/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) > [Under a socialist system every nation will be the supreme arbiter of its own destinies, national and international; will be forced into no alliance…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/james-connolly/under-a-socialist-system-every-nation-will-be-the-supreme-arbiter-of/) [James Connolly](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) [Explore all 38 James Connolly quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/james-connolly/) ## More Aggression quotes > [Because of the womb being a central phenomenon in the feminine body, the whole psychology of woman differs: she is non-aggressive, non-inquiring, non-questioning, non-doubting,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rajneesh/because-of-the-womb-being-a-central-phenomenon-in-the-feminine-body/) [Rajneesh](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rajneesh/) > [I used to fight with hate. There's been a lot of aggression in my past growing up and stuff. That's because I was hurt…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/rose-namajunas/i-used-to-fight-with-hate-there-s-been-a-lot-of-aggression-in-my-past/) [Rose Namajunas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/rose-namajunas/) > [We have nothing in our history or position to invite aggression; we have everything to beckon us to the cultivation of relations of peace…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/we-have-nothing-in-our-history-or-position-to-invite-aggression-we/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [I take up the standpoint that the tendency to aggression is an innate, independent, instinctual disposition in man, and I come back now to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/sigmund-freud/i-take-up-the-standpoint-that-the-tendency-to-aggression-is-an-innate/) [Sigmund Freud](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/sigmund-freud/) > [Boxing can be so important to young people, it keeps you off the street and you can channel your energy and aggression in the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/nigel-benn/boxing-can-be-so-important-to-young-people-it-keeps-you-off-the/) [Nigel Benn](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/nigel-benn/) > [“That which is of great value cannot be attained through aggression. You will be able to find the mystery of life only if you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/osho/that-which-is-of-great-value-cannot-be-attained-through-aggression/) [Osho](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/osho/) > [A society that presumes a norm of violence and celebrates aggression, whether in the subway, on the football field, or in the conduct of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lewis-h-lapham/a-society-that-presumes-a-norm-of-violence-and-celebrates-aggression/) [Lewis H. 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My clients…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gunnar-peterson/i-really-like-battle-ropes-they-re-so-versatile-you-can-get-a/) [Gunnar Peterson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gunnar-peterson/) > [ Now they \[the Powers\] have started the aggression, and the extinction of our nation is imminent. If we just fold our arms and yield… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/empress-dowager-cixi/now-they-the-powers-have-started-the-aggression-and-the-extinction-of/) [Empress Dowager Cixi](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/empress-dowager-cixi/) > [I'm not going to appeal to violence or aggression - of course not.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/alexei-navalny/i-m-not-going-to-appeal-to-violence-or-aggression-of-course-not/) [Alexei Navalny](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/alexei-navalny/) > [This is passive-aggression in action.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chuck-palahniuk/this-is-passive-aggression-in-action/) [Chuck Palahniuk](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chuck-palahniuk/) > [When a child hits a child, we call it aggression. When a child hits an adult, we call it hostility. When an adult hits…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anonymous/when-a-child-hits-a-child-we-call-it-aggression-when-a-child-hits-an/) [Anonymous](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anonymous/) > [Major international interventions are doomed unless the US is directly or indirectly involved. But if American politicians, officials and servicemen are to be put…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/margaret-thatcher/major-international-interventions-are-doomed-unless-the-us-is/) [Margaret Thatcher](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/margaret-thatcher/) [Browse all 860 Aggression quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aggression/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "“It would be well to realize that the talk of ‘humane methods of warfare’, of the ‘rules of civilized warfare’, and all such homage to the finer sentiments of the race are hypocritical and unreal, and only intended for the consumption of stay-at-homes. There are no humane methods of warfare, there is no such thing as civilized warfare; all warfare is inhuman, all warfare is barbaric; the first blast of the bugles of war ever sounds for the time being the funeral knell of human progress… What lover of humanity can view with anything but horror the prospect of this ruthless destruction of human life. 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