Agony Quote by Robert Graves
“Kaisers and Czars will strut the stage Once more with pomp and greed and rage; Courtly ministers will stop At home and fight to the last drop; By the million men will die In some new horrible agony.”
About This Quote
Source Poem: “The War” (1936)
Powerful leaders and their ministers pursue greed and conflict, leading to massive loss and suffering for ordinary people.
In simple terms: Greedy leaders cause widespread suffering.
Key Takeaway
Beware the corrupt pursuit of power.
Themes
war
politics
greed
human cost
Mood
somber
critical
Type
historical
political
When to use this quote
- political negotiations
- peace talks
- public awareness campaigns
Key Concepts
power dynamics
military ambition
social injustice
mass death
Questions to Reflect On
- How do personal ambitions fuel larger conflicts?
- What can individuals do to resist such greed?
A Different Perspective
The quote may oversimplify complex historical causes.
![“[W]e must learn to accommodate ourselves to the discovery that some of those cunningly-fashioned instruments called human souls have only a very limited range of music, and will not vibrate in the least under a touch that fills others with tremulous rapture or quivering agony.” quote by George Eliot](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/9be/george-eliot-84_agony_w-e-must-learn-to-accommodate-ourselves_12409.jpg)
