Art of war Quote by Pearl S. Buck
““Why should we hate them? Because ours is the only true civilization! Even in science -- consider that we invented the sternpost rudder twelve hundred years before the Europeans did! Fore-and-aft sails in the third century! Treadmill paddle wheel for boats five hundred years later! Warships with rams and twenty paddle wheels by the twelfth century -- the British thought we had copied theirs, the fools! In the thirteenth century we had ships with fifty cabins for passengers, six-masts, double planking, water-tight compartments! Only in the last century did the barbarians even have transverse bulkheads! Five hundred years ago we already had ships four hundred and fifty feet long, and we grew fresh vegetables aboard in tubs! WE sailed the high seas to Sumatra and India, to Aden and Africa and even to Madagascar -- sixty years before the Portuguese bit a piece from the thigh of India! I curse Confucius and all those mad saints who persuaded us against war! Did you ever hear of Sun Wa, who lived three thousand years ago? No? Read the Art of War! 'If you are not in danger, do not fight,' he wrote. Now we are in danger!””
About This Quote
Source Speech: Historical propaganda excerpt, unknown source, early 20th century
The speaker boasts of superior ancient maritime technology to justify hostility, invoking nationalism and historical pride as a rallying cry against perceived enemies.
In simple terms: Pride in ancient achievements fuels animosity toward others.
Recognize how selective history can inflame conflict.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- political rhetoric
- education curricula
- media narratives
- national identity formation
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- How does glorifying past achievements affect present attitudes?
- Can pride be balanced with humility?
Such claims often ignore broader context and can be used to legitimize aggression.