Anti war Quote by Robert M. La Follette, Sr
“If there is no sufficient reason for war, the war party will make war on one pretext, then invent another.”
About This Quote
Source Speech: Remarks on War and Peace, 1915
War is often justified by fabricated reasons; aggressors create pretexts to start conflict.
In simple terms: War is started by made‑up reasons.
Question motives before supporting war.
Themes
Mood
Type
When to use this quote
- policy debates
- military planning
- public discourse
- media analysis
Key Concepts
Questions to Reflect On
- What evidence would you need to accept a war’s cause?
- How can societies guard against manufactured pretexts?
War may be driven by genuine threats, not just pretexts.