--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Tell people that war is an evil, and they…" description: "\"Tell people that war is an evil, and they will laugh; for who does not know it? Tell them that patriotism is an evil, and most of them will agree, but ..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/leo-tolstoy-55_agree_tell-people-that-war-is-an-evil-and-they_865038.png" --- # Tell people that war is an evil, and they will laugh; for… ![“Tell people that war is an evil, and they will laugh; for who does not know it? Tell them that patriotism is an evil, and most of them will agree, but with a reservation. "Yes," they will say, "wrong patriotism is an evil; but there is another kind, the kind we hold." But just what this good…” quote by Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/leo-tolstoy-55_agree_tell-people-that-war-is-an-evil-and-they_865038.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/leo-tolstoy-55_agree_tell-people-that-war-is-an-evil-and-they_865038.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/a77/leo-tolstoy-55_agree_tell-people-that-war-is-an-evil-and-they_865038.png) > “Tell people that war is an evil, and they will laugh; for who does not know it? Tell them that patriotism is an evil, and most of them will agree, but with a reservation. "Yes," they will say, "wrong patriotism is an evil; but there is another kind, the kind we hold." But just what this good patriotism is, no one explains.” [Leo Tolstoy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/leo-tolstoy/) ## 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 portrayed as universally condemned, yet people mock the warning; patriotism is accepted but only when framed as a “good” kind, leaving its true nature vague. **In simple terms:** War is seen as evil, patriotism is accepted only when labeled good. Key Takeaway Question assumptions about patriotism and its definitions. Themes war patriotism skepticism Mood critical reflective Type philosophical political When to use this quote - political discourse - military recruitment - public protests - educational curricula Key Concepts Moral relativism social conformity Questions to Reflect On - How do societies define “good” patriotism? - What prevents honest discussion of war’s evils? A Different Perspective People may resist confronting uncomfortable truths about war and patriotism. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Agree](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/agree/) [Doe](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/doe/) [Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/evil/) [Good Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/good-patriotism-893550/) [Kind](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/kind/) [Knows](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/knows/) [Laughing](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/laughing/) [Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism/) [Patriotism Evil](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-evil-893546/) [Patriotism Explains](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/patriotism-explains-893549/) [People](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/people/) [Reservations](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/reservations/) [Tell Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/tell-patriotism-893547/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wrong Patriotism](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wrong-patriotism-893548/) ## Related quotes > [Nationalism and patriotism are the two most evil forces that I know of in this century or in any century and cause more wars…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/oliver-stone/nationalism-and-patriotism-are-the-two-most-evil-forces-that-i-know/) [Oliver Stone](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/oliver-stone/) > [“Patriotism and war go together. 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