Eye Quote by William James
“In modern eyes, precious though wars may be they must not be waged solely for the sake of the ideal harvest. Only when forced upon one, is a war now thought permissible.”
About This Quote
War should not be pursued solely for abstract ideals; it becomes justified only when forced upon us.
In simple terms: War isn’t justified by ideals alone.
Key Takeaway
Question the motives behind conflict.
Themes
war
ethics
politics
Mood
serious
reflective
Type
philosophical
political
When to use this quote
- policy analysis
- military ethics education
- activism
- peace negotiations
Key Concepts
idealism
just war theory
coercion
Questions to Reflect On
- When is war truly unavoidable?
- Who decides what is a just cause?
A Different Perspective
Idealism may ignore necessary self‑defense.
![“[M]ore wars have been waged, more people killed, and more evil perpetrated in the name of religion than by any other institutional force in human history. The sad truth continues in our present day.” quote by Charles Kimball](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/img-quotes/ec3/charles-kimball-48977_evil_m-ore-wars-have-been-waged-more-people-k_2005278.jpg)
