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War Quote by Ken Follett

“In every country, those who were against war had been overruled. The Austrians had attacked Serbia when they might have held back; the Russians had mobilized instead of negotiating; the Germans had refused to attend an international conference to settle the issue; the French had been offered the…” quote by Ken Follett
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““In every country, those who were against war had been overruled. The Austrians had attacked Serbia when they might have held back; the Russians had mobilized instead of negotiating; the Germans had refused to attend an international conference to settle the issue; the French had been offered the chance to remain neutral and had spurned it; and now the British were about to join in when they might easily have remained on the sidelines.””

Ken Follett

About This Quote

Source Novel: The Pillars of the Earth, 1989

War decisions often overrule peace advocates, leading nations to join conflicts they could avoid.

In simple terms: Peace advocates are ignored, causing unnecessary wars.

Key Takeaway

Consider the cost of joining wars hastily.

Themes

war politics peace decisionmaking

Mood

anxious reflective

Type

historical political

When to use this quote

  • policy debates
  • international negotiations
  • military interventions
  • public opinion
  • diplomacy

Key Concepts

realism historical analysis collective responsibility

Questions to Reflect On

  • What factors cause societies to ignore diplomatic solutions?
  • How can public pressure shift decisions toward peace?
A Different Perspective

Peaceful alternatives are often dismissed due to political pressure.

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