--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: Wars have ever been but another…" description: "\"Wars have ever been but another aristocratic mode of plundering and oppressing commerce.\" — Richard Cobden" image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/richard-cobden-16480_aristocratic_wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocr_1376816.jpg" --- # Wars have ever been but another aristocratic mode of… ![“Wars have ever been but another aristocratic mode of plundering and oppressing commerce.” quote by Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/richard-cobden-16480_aristocratic_wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocr_1376816.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/richard-cobden-16480_aristocratic_wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocr_1376816.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/richard-cobden-16480_aristocratic_wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocr_1376816.jpg) > “Wars have ever been but another aristocratic mode of plundering and oppressing commerce.” [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The quote argues that wars serve the interests of the elite, allowing them to loot and dominate trade under the guise of conflict. **In simple terms:** Wars let the rich loot trade. Key Takeaway Recognize how power can misuse war. Themes war economics power class conflict Mood critical skeptical inquisitive Type political historical analytical When to use this quote - policy analysis - historical study - activism - education - media critique Key Concepts imperialism economic exploitation political economy Questions to Reflect On - Who benefits from modern conflicts? - How can societies limit war for profit? A Different Perspective War also can be driven by ideology or security concerns, not just aristocratic greed. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Aristocratic](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocratic/) [Business](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/business/) [Commerce](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/commerce/) [War](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/war/) [Wars](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/wars/) ## Related quotes > [“Time flies when you're plundering history”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ryan-graudin/time-flies-when-you-re-plundering-history/) [Ryan Graudin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ryan-graudin/) > [We ... must avoid the impulse to live only for today, plundering for our own ease and convenience the precious resources of tomorrow.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/dwight-d-eisenhower/we-must-avoid-the-impulse-to-live-only-for-today-plundering-for-our/) [Dwight D. Eisenhower](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/dwight-d-eisenhower/) > [When you have a policy of making sure that African Americans cannot build wealth, of plundering African American communities of wealth, giving opportunities to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ta-nehisi-coates/when-you-have-a-policy-of-making-sure-that-african-americans-cannot/) [Ta-Nehisi Coates](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ta-nehisi-coates/) > [The existing world economic order constitutes a system of plundering and exploitation like no other in history.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fidel-castro/the-existing-world-economic-order-constitutes-a-system-of-plundering/) [Fidel Castro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fidel-castro/) > [“Plundering and stealing, cheating and lying, laboring, fighting and loving; taking all we could and returning little, we went our careless and irresponsible ways,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jim-tully/plundering-and-stealing-cheating-and-lying-laboring-fighting-and/) [Jim Tully](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jim-tully/) > [The plundering of the human spirit by the market place is paralleled by the plundering of the earth by capital.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/murray-bookchin/the-plundering-of-the-human-spirit-by-the-market-place-is-paralleled/) [Murray Bookchin](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/murray-bookchin/) > [Money lending is a horrible profession. If we are to call it otherwise it is lawful plundering.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/money-lending-is-a-horrible-profession-if-we-are-to-call-it-otherwise/) [Periyar E. V. Ramasamy](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/periyar-e-v-ramasamy/) > [Shall I tell you of their plundering, their covetousness, their abandonment of the poor, their thefts, their cheating in trade?](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/saint-john-chrysostom/shall-i-tell-you-of-their-plundering-their-covetousness-their/) [Saint John Chrysostom](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/saint-john-chrysostom/) > [As we cleared the passage we found mixed with the rubble broken potsherds, jar seals, and numerous fragments of small objects; water skins lying…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/howard-carter/as-we-cleared-the-passage-we-found-mixed-with-the-rubble-broken/) [Howard Carter](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/howard-carter/) > [The plundering for profit of the world's natural resources has threatened the very sustainability of the planet.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-mcdonnell/the-plundering-for-profit-of-the-world-s-natural-resources-has/) [John McDonnell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-mcdonnell/) > [The worst readers are those who behave like plundering troops: they take away a few things they can use, dirty and confound the remainder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/friedrich-nietzsche/the-worst-readers-are-those-who-behave-like-plundering-troops-they/) [Friedrich Nietzsche](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/friedrich-nietzsche/) > [“What many call 'plundering the Egyptians' is nothing more than dumpster diving in Egypt.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joe-rigney/what-many-call-plundering-the-egyptians-is-nothing-more-than-dumpster/) [Joe Rigney](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joe-rigney/) > [“The German organized plundering, planned it, disciplined it, and made it official just as he organized everything else, and then he compiled the most…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/robert-h-jackson/the-german-organized-plundering-planned-it-disciplined-it-and-made-it/) [Robert H. Jackson](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/robert-h-jackson/) > [Aristocratic depression has this cosmic dimension to it, where it's asking these big questions about, "Why?" "What is the purpose of all this?" Neuroses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-douglas/aristocratic-depression-has-this-cosmic-dimension-to-it-where-it-s/) [Lawrence Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-douglas/) > [“I have an aristocratic smile and like to punch people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-have-an-aristocratic-smile-and-like-to-punch-people/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) ## More by Richard Cobden > [the twelve or fifteen millions in the British Empire, who, while they possess no electoral rights, are yet persuaded they are freemen, and who…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/the-twelve-or-fifteen-millions-in-the-british-empire-who-while-they/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [Let it never be forgotten that it is not by means of war that states are rendered fit for the enjoyment of constitutional freedom;…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/let-it-never-be-forgotten-that-it-is-not-by-means-of-war-that-states/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [In Holland, they have come to precisely the same conclusion. There they have adopted a system of secular education, because they have found it…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/in-holland-they-have-come-to-precisely-the-same-conclusion-there-they/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [Cobden was the greatest statesman and prophet of the century. His speeches are an inspiration. A man whose disciple I am willing to confess…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/cobden-was-the-greatest-statesman-and-prophet-of-the-century-his/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [I am not accustomed to pay fulsome compliments to the English, by telling them that they are superior to all the world; but this…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/i-am-not-accustomed-to-pay-fulsome-compliments-to-the-english-by/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [I believe it has been said that one copy of The Times contains more useful information than the whole of the historical works of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/i-believe-it-has-been-said-that-one-copy-of-the-times-contains-more/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [A newspaper should be the maximum of information, and the minimum of comment.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/a-newspaper-should-be-the-maximum-of-information-and-the-minimum-of/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [From 1836, down to last year, there is no proof of the Government having any confidence in the duration of peace, or possessing increased…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/from-1836-down-to-last-year-there-is-no-proof-of-the-government/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [I therefore declare, that if you wish any remission of the taxation which falls upon the homes of the people of England and Wales,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/i-therefore-declare-that-if-you-wish-any-remission-of-the-taxation/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [Luck relies on chance, labor on character.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/luck-relies-on-chance-labor-on-character/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [You may keep Turkey on the map of Europe, you may call the country by the name of Turkey if you like, but do…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/you-may-keep-turkey-on-the-map-of-europe-you-may-call-the-country-by/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [I took the repeal of the Corn Laws as light amusement compared with the difficult task of inducing the priests of all denominations to…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/i-took-the-repeal-of-the-corn-laws-as-light-amusement-compared-with/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [ The people of the two nations \[French and English\] must be brought into mutual dependence by the supply of each other's wants. There is… ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/the-people-of-the-two-nations-french-and-english-must-be-brought-into/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [I confess that for fifteen years my efforts in education, and my hopes of success in establishing a system of national education, have always…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/i-confess-that-for-fifteen-years-my-efforts-in-education-and-my-hopes/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) > [the principles of political economy have elevated the working class above the place they ever filled before.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/the-principles-of-political-economy-have-elevated-the-working-class/) [Richard Cobden](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) [Explore all 39 Richard Cobden quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/) ## More Aristocratic quotes > [“I have an aristocratic smile and like to punch people.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jonathan-safran-foer/i-have-an-aristocratic-smile-and-like-to-punch-people/) [Jonathan Safran Foer](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jonathan-safran-foer/) > [Aristocratic depression has this cosmic dimension to it, where it's asking these big questions about, "Why?" "What is the purpose of all this?" Neuroses…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lawrence-douglas/aristocratic-depression-has-this-cosmic-dimension-to-it-where-it-s/) [Lawrence Douglas](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lawrence-douglas/) > [Where there is no danger of overt action there is rarely any interference with freedom. That is why there has so often been amazing…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/walter-lippmann/where-there-is-no-danger-of-overt-action-there-is-rarely-any/) [Walter Lippmann](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/walter-lippmann/) > [It will be said that the joy of mental adventure must be rare, that there are few who can appreciate it, and that ordinary…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/bertrand-russell/it-will-be-said-that-the-joy-of-mental-adventure-must-be-rare-that/) [Bertrand Russell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/bertrand-russell/) > [One main condition of aristocratic life was present in the South and not in the North--personal responsibility to other human beings for education and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marshall-mcluhan/one-main-condition-of-aristocratic-life-was-present-in-the-south-and/) [Marshall McLuhan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marshall-mcluhan/) > [“The truth was that, with the Duchess de Luxembourg, with Mme de Morienval, Mme de Saint-Euverte and any number of others, the features that…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/marcel-proust/the-truth-was-that-with-the-duchess-de-luxembourg-with-mme-de/) [Marcel Proust](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/marcel-proust/) > [History is the most aristocratic of all literary pursuits, because it obliges the historian to be rich as well as educated.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-adams/history-is-the-most-aristocratic-of-all-literary-pursuits-because-it/) [Henry Adams](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-adams/) > [I do keep getting these bad girl roles. The funny thing is that, honestly, I don't think I'm believable as these aristocratic mean girls.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/katie-mcgrath/i-do-keep-getting-these-bad-girl-roles-the-funny-thing-is-that/) [Katie McGrath](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/katie-mcgrath/) > [The old idea that the joke was not good enough for the company has been superseded by the new aristocratic idea that the company…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/gilbert-k-chesterton/the-old-idea-that-the-joke-was-not-good-enough-for-the-company-has/) [Gilbert K. Chesterton](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/gilbert-k-chesterton/) > [“He admired her for throwing off her aristocratic shackles -- his terms, that -- and making her own way in the world. He didn't…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lauren-willig/he-admired-her-for-throwing-off-her-aristocratic-shackles-his-terms/) [Lauren Willig](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lauren-willig/) > [You are the only woman who has a sense of gaiety, a wise tolerance - no more, you seem to urge me to betray…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/henry-miller/you-are-the-only-woman-who-has-a-sense-of-gaiety-a-wise-tolerance-no/) [Henry Miller](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/henry-miller/) > [When we consider the close connection between science and industrial development on the one hand, and between literary and aesthetic cultivation and an aristocratic…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/john-dewey/when-we-consider-the-close-connection-between-science-and-industrial/) [John Dewey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/john-dewey/) > [Though, with the ascendancy of Louis, the political power of the nobles finally came to an end, France remained, in the whole complexion of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/lytton-strachey/though-with-the-ascendancy-of-louis-the-political-power-of-the-nobles/) [Lytton Strachey](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/lytton-strachey/) > [In aristocratic societies, rich people used to commission exquisite paintings for their walls.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/brad-holland/in-aristocratic-societies-rich-people-used-to-commission-exquisite/) [Brad Holland](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/brad-holland/) > [Politics of all sorts, I confess, are far beyond my limited powers of comprehension. Those of this country as far as I have been…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fanny-kemble/politics-of-all-sorts-i-confess-are-far-beyond-my-limited-powers-of/) [Fanny Kemble](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fanny-kemble/) [Browse all 99 Aristocratic quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/aristocratic/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "Wars have ever been but another aristocratic mode of plundering and oppressing commerce.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Richard Cobden" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocratic-mode-of-plundering-and/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Aristocratic" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocratic-mode-of-plundering-and/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/richard-cobden-16480_aristocratic_wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocr_1376816.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/richard-cobden-16480_aristocratic_wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocr_1376816.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/97a/richard-cobden-16480_aristocratic_wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocr_1376816.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“Wars have ever been but another aristocratic mode of plundering and oppressing commerce.” — Richard Cobden", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Richard Cobden", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-cobden/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "Wars have ever been but another...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocratic-mode-of-plundering-and/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-cobden/wars-have-ever-been-but-another-aristocratic-mode-of-plundering-and/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```