War: Quotations from Cyclopedia of Practical Quotations
A thousand glorious actions that might claim Triumphant laurels, and immortal fame, Confus'd in crowds of glorious actions lie, And troops of heroes undistinguished die.— ADDISON — Campaign. L. 304.
From hence, let fierce contending nations know What dire effects from civil discord flow.— ADDISON — Cato. Act V. Sc. 4.
My voice is still for war.— ADDISON — Cato. Act II. Sc. 1.
O great corrector of enormous times, Shaker of o'er-rank states, thou grand decider Of dusty and old titles, that healest with blood The earth when it is sick, and curest the world O' the pleurisy of people.— BEAUMONT AND FLETCHER — The Two Noble Kinsmen. Act V. Sc. 1.
Gaily! gaily! close our ranks! Arm! Advance! Hope of France! Gaily! gaily! close our ranks! Onward! Onward! Gauls and Franks!— BÉRANGER — Les Gaulois et François. C. L. Betts' trans.
It is magnificent, but it is not war.— GENERAL PIERRE BOSQUET — On the
Charge of the Light Brigade.
Her voice was like the voice the stars Had when they sang together.— DANTE GABRIEL ROSSETTI — The Blessed Damozel. St. 10.
A sweet voice, a little indistinct and muffled, which caresses and does not thrill; an utterance which glides on without emphasis, and lays stress only on what is deeply felt.— GEORGES SAND — Handsome Lawrence. Ch. III.
Her voice was ever soft, Gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.— Shakespeare — King Lear. Act V. Sc. 3. L. 272.
Two voices are there; one is of the sea, One of the mountains: each a mighty Voice.— WORDSWORTH — Thought of a Briton on
the Subjugation of Switzerland. He who did well in war, just earns the right To begin doing well in peace.— ROBERT BROWNING — Luria. Act II. L. 354.
Lay down the axe; fling by the spade; Leave in its track the toiling plough; The rifle and the bayonet-blade For arms like yours were fitter now; And let the hands that ply the pen Quit the light task, and learn to wield The horseman's crooked brand, and rein The charger on the battle-field.— BRYANT — Our Country's Call.
Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled; Scots, wham Bruce has aften led, Welcome to your gory bed, Or to victory!— BURNS — Bruce to his Men at
Bannockburn. Bloody wars at first began, The artificial plague of man, That from his own invention rise, To scourge his own iniquities.— BUTLER — Satire. Upon the Weakness and Misery of Man. L. 105.
For those that fly may fight again, Which he can never do that's slain. S.— BUTLER — Hudibras. Pt. III. Canto III. L. 243.
For those that run away, and fly, Take place at least o' th' enemy.— BUTLER — Hudibras. Pt. I. Canto III. L. 609.
In all the trade of war, no feat Is nobler than a brave retreat.— BUTLER — Hudibras. Pt. I. Canto III. L. 607.
And there was mounting in hot haste: the steed, The mustering squadron, and the clattering car, Went pouring forward with impetuous speed, And swiftly forming in the ranks of war; And the deep thunder peal on peal, afar And near; the beat of the alarming drum Roused up the soldier ere the morning star; While throng'd the citizens with terror dumb, Or whispering with white lips-"The foe! they come! they come!"— BYRON — Childe Harold. Canto III. St. 25.
Battle's magnificently stern array!— BYRON — Childe Harold. Canto III. St. 28.
Hand to hand, and foot to foot: Nothing there, save death, was mute; Stroke, and thrust, and flash, and cry For quarter or for victory, Mingle there with the volleying thunder.— BYRON — Siege of Corinth. St. 24.
Like the leaves of the for when summer is when summer is green, That host with their bi mers at sunset were seen; Like the leaves of the forest when autumn hath blown, That host on the morrow lay wither'd and strown!— BYRON — The Destruction of Sennacherib.
The Assyrian came down like the wolf on the fold, And his cohorts were gleaming in purple and gold.— BYRON — The Destruction of Sennacherib.
War, war is still the cry, "War even to the knife!"— BYRON — Childe Harold. Canto I. St. 86.
The combat deepens. On, ye brave, Who rush to glory, or the grave! Wave, Munich! all thy banners wave, And charge with all thy chivalry.— CAMPBELL — Hohenlinden.
When the battle rages loud and long, And the stormy winds do blow.— CAMPBELL — Ye Mariners of England.
War will never yield but to the principles of universal justice and love, and these have no sure root but in the religion of Jesus Christ.— WM. ELLERY CHANNING — Lecture on War. Sec. II.
But war's a game, which, were their subjects wise, Kings would not play at.— COWPER — The Task. Bk. V. L. 187.
Hence jarring sectaries may learn Their real interest to discern; That brother should not war with brother, And worry and devour each other.— COWPER — The Nightingale and
Glow-Worm. Carry his body hence! Kings must have slaves: Kings climb to eminence Over men's graves : So this man's eye is dim; Throw the earth over him!— HENRY AUSTIN DOBSON — Before Sedan.
They now to fight are gone; Armor on armor shone; Drum now to drum did groan, To hear was wonder; That with the cries they make, The very earth did shake; Trumpet to trumpet spake, Thunder to thunder.— DRAYTON — Ballad of Agincourt. St. 8.
War, he sung, is toil and trouble; Honour but an empty bubble.— DRYDEN — Alexander's Feast. L. 99.
By the rude bridge that arched the flood, Their flag to April's breeze unfurl'd; Here once the embattl'd farmers stood, And fired the shot heard round the world.— EMERSON — Hymn sung at the completion
of the Concord Monument. Under the sod and the dew, Waiting the Judgment Day; Love and tears for the Blue, Tears and love for the Gray.— FRANCIS M. FINCH — The Blue and the
Gray. There never was a good war or a bad peace.— BENJ. FRANKLIN — Letter to Quincy.
Sept. 11, 1773. For he who fights and runs away May live to fight another day; But he who is in battle slain Can never rise and fight again.— GOLDSMITH — The Art of Poetry on a New Plan. Vol. II. P. 147. See
also RAY-History of the Rebellion. P. 48. (1752). I*** purpose to fight it out on this line if it takes all summer. S.— U. S. GRANT — Despatch from
Spottsylvania Court House. May 11, 1864. No terms except an unconditional and immediate surrender can be accepted. I propose to move immediately upon your works.— U. S. GRANT — To Gen. S. B. Buckner.
Fort Donelson. Feb. 16, 1862. Let the only walls the foe shall scale Be ramparts of the dead!— PAUL H. HAYNE — Vicksburg.
I war not with the dead.— HOMER — Iliad. Bk. VII. L. 485.
Pope's trans. Our business in the field of fight Is not to question, but to prove our might.— HOMER — Iliad. Bk. XX. L. 304.
C. Pope's trans, So ends the bloody business of the day.— HOMER — Odyssey. Bk. XXII. L. 516.
Pope's trans. The chance of war Is equal, and the slayer oft is slain.— HOMER — Iliad. Bk. XVIII. L. 388.
Bryant's trans. Earth was the meadow, he the mower strong.— VICTOR HUGO — La Légende des Siècles.
Oh, East is East, and West is West, and never the twain shall meet Till earth and sky stand presently at God's great judgment seat; But there is neither East nor West, border nor breed nor birth When two strong men stand face to face, tho' they come from the ends of the earth !— RUDYARD KIPLING — Barrack-Room
Ballads. Ballad of East and West. When Greeks joined Greeks, then was the tug of war!— NATHANIEL LEE — The Rival Queens; or, Alexander the Great. Act IV. Sc. 2.
To arms! to arms! ye brave! Th' avenging sword unsheathe, March on! march on! all hearts resolved On victory or death!— JOSEPH ROUGET DE LISLE — The
Marseilles Hymn. Is it, O man, with such discordant noises, With such accursed instruments as these, Thou drownest Nature's sweet and kindly voices, And jarrest the celestial harmonies?— LONGFELLOW — Arsenal at Springfield. St. 8.
Ez fer war, I call it murder, - Ther you hev it plain and flat; I don't want to go no furder Than my Testyment fer that.— LOWELL — The Biglow Papers. No. 1.
It don't seem hardly right, John, When both my hands was full, To stump me to a fight, John, Your cousin, too, John Bull! Ole Uncle S. sez he, "I guess We know it now," sez he, "The lion's paw is all the law, According to J. B., That's fit for you an me."— LOWELL — The Biglow Papers. Jonathan to John. St. 1.
We kind o' thought Christ went agin war an' pillage.— LOWELL — The Biglow Papers. No. 3.
Oh! wherefore come ye forth in triumph from the North, With your hands and your feet, and your raiment all red? And wherefore doth your rout send forth a joyous shout? And whence be the grapes of the wine-press which ye tread?— MACAULAY — The Battle of Naseby.
War in men's eyes shall be A monster of iniquity In the good time coming. Nations shall not quarrel then, To prove which is the stronger; Nor slaughter men for glory's sake ;- Wait a little longer.— CHARLES MACKAY — The Good Time Coming. St. 3.
Some undone widow sits upon mine arm, And takes away the use of it; and my sword, Glued to my scabbard with wronged orphan's tears, Will not be drawn.— MASSINGER — A New Way to Pay Old Debts. Act V. Sc. 1.
March to the battle-field, The foe is now before us; Each heart is Freedom's shield, And heaven is shining o'er us,— B. E. O'MEARA — March to the Battle-
Field. And high above the fight the lonely bugle grieves.— GRENVILLE MELLIN — Bunker Hill.
There is war in the skies! S. OWEN MEREDITH (Lord Lytton)- Lucile. Pt. I. Canto IV. St. 12. Arms on armour clashing bray'd Horrible discord, and the madding wheels Of brazen chariots ray'd; dire was the noise Of conflict.— MILTON — Paradise Lost. Bk. VI. L. 209.
Black it stood as night, Fierce as ten furies, terrible as hell, And shook a dreadful dart.— MILTON — Paradise Lost. Bk. II. L. 670.
My sentence is for open war.— MILTON — Paradise Lost. Bk. II. L. 51.
Others more mild, Retreated in a silent valley, sing With notes angelical to many a harp Their own heroic deeds and hapless fall By doom of battle.— MILTON — Paradise Lost. Bk. II. L. 546.
So frown'd the mighty combatants, that hell Grew darker at their frown.— MILTON — Paradise Lost. Bk. II. L. 719.
The brazen throat of war.— MILTON — Paradise Lost. Bk. XI. L. 713.
Th' imperial ensign, which, full high advanc'd, Shone like a meteor, streaming to the wind. C.— MILTON — Paradise Lost. Bk. I. L. 536.
To overcome in battle, and subdue Nations, and bring home spoils with infinite Man-slaughter, shall be held the highest pitch Of human glory.— MILTON — Paradise Lost. Bk. XI. L. 691.
What boots it at one gate to make defence, And at another to let in the foe?— MILTON — Samson Agonistes. L. 560.
What though the field be lost? All is not lost; the unconquerable will, And study of revenge, immortal hate And courage never to submit or yield, And what is else not to be overcome.— MILTON — Paradise Lost. Bk. I. L. 105.
In the wars of the European powers in matters relating to themselves we have never taken any part, nor does it comport with our policy so to do. It is only when our rights are invaded or seriously menaced that we resent injuries or make preparation for our defence.— JAMES MONROE — Annual Message.
Dec. 2, 1823. 'Tis a principle of war that when you can use the lightning, 'tis better than cannon.— NAPOLEON I
"Go, with a song of peace," said Fingal; "go, Ullin, to the king of swords. Tell him that we are mighty in war; that the ghosts of our foes are many."— OSSIAN — Carthon. L. 269.
She saw her sons with purple death expire, Her sacred domes involved in rolling fire, A dreadful series of intestine wars, Inglorious triumphs and dishonest scars.— POPE — Windsor Forest. L. 323.
War its thousands slays, Peace its ten thousands.— PORTEUS — Death. L. 178.
The waves Of the mysterious death-river moaned; The tramp, the shout, the fearful thunderroar Of red-breathed cannon, and the wailing cry Of myriad victims, filled the air.— PRENTICE — Lookout Mountain. L. 16.
The morning came, there stood the foe; Stark eyed them as they stood; Few words he spoke-'twas not a time For moralizing mood: "See there the enemy, my boys! Now, strong in valor's might, Beat them or Betty Stark will sleep In widowhood to-night."— J. P. RODMAN — Battle of Bennington.
The guard dies but never surrenders.— ROUGEMONT — Invented days after the
Battle of Waterloo. Attributed to— CAMBRONNE. See FOURNIER
L'Esprit dans L'Histoire. Righteous Heaven, In thy great day of vengeance! Blast the Blast the traitor And his pernicious counsels, who, for wealth, For pow'r, the pride of greatness, or revenge, Would plunge his native land in civil wars.— Shakespeare — NICHOLAS ROWE Jane Shore. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 198.
"Charge, Chester, charge! On, Stanley, on!" Were the last words of Marmion. ScoTT-Marmion. Canto VI. St. 32. In the lost battle, Borne down by the flying. Where mingles war's rattle With groans of the dying.— SCOTT — Marmion. Canto III. St. 11.
One blast upon his bugle horn Were worth a thousand men.— SCOTT — Lady of the Lake. Canto VI. St. 18.
Still from the sire the son shall hear Of the stern strife, and carnage drear, Of Flodden's fatal field, When shiver'd was fair Scotland's spear, And broken was her shield! S. ScoTT-Marmion. Canto VI. St. 34. All was lost, But that the heavens fought.— Shakespeare — Cymbeline. Act V. Sc. 3. L. 3.
And all the gods go with you! upon your sword Sit laurel victory! and smooth success Be strew'd before your feet!— Shakespeare — Antony and Cleopatra. Act I. Sc. 3. L. 99.
Blow, wind! come, wrack! At least we'll die with harness on our back.— Shakespeare — Macbeth. Act V. Sc. 5. L. 51.
Cæsar's spirit, ranging for revenge, With Até by his side come hot from hell, Shall in these confines with a monarch's voice Cry "Havoc," and let slip the dogs of war. Julius Cæsar. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 270. Fight, gentlemen of England! fight, bold yeomen! Draw, archers, draw your arrows to the head! Spur your proud horses hard, and ride in blood; Amaze the welkin with your broken staves!— Shakespeare — Richard III. Act V. Sc. 3. L. 338.
Follow thy drum; With man's blood paint the ground, gules, gules; Religious canons, civil laws are cruel; Then what should war be?— Shakespeare — Timon of Athens. Act IV. Sc. 3. L. 58.
From camp to camp through the foul womb of night The hum of either army stilly sounds.— Shakespeare — Henry V. Act IV. Chorus. L. 4.
Give me the cups; And let the kettle to the trumpet speak, The trumpet to the cannoneer without, The cannons to the heavens, the heavens to earth.— Shakespeare — Hamlet. Act V. Sc. 2. L. 285.
Grim-visag'd war hath smoothed his wrinkled front.— Shakespeare — Richard III. Act I. Sc. 1. L. 9.
He is come to open The purple testament of bleeding war. Richard 11. Act III. Sc. 3. L. 93. He which hath no stomach to this fight, Let him depart; his passport shall be made.— Shakespeare — Henry V. Act IV. Sc. 3. L. 35.
I drew this gallant head of war, And cull'd these fiery spirits from the world, To outlook conquest and to win renown Even in the jaws of danger and of death.— Shakespeare — King John. Act V. Sc. 2. L. 113.
Lay on, Macduff, And damn'd be him that first cries "Hold, enough!"— Shakespeare — Macbeth. Act V. Sc. 8. L. 33.
Let's march without the noise of threat'ning drum.— Shakespeare — Richard II. Act III. Sc. 3. L. 51.
Now for the bare-pick'd bone of majesty Doth dogged war bristle his angry crest And snarleth in the gentle eyes of peace.— Shakespeare — King John. Act IV. Sc. 3. L. 148.
Once more unto the breach, dear friends, once more; Or close the wall up with our English dead.— Shakespeare — Henry V. Act III. Sc. 1. L. 1.
Our battle is more full of names than yours, Our men more perfect in the use of arms, Our armour all as strong, our cause the best; Then reason will our hearts should be as good.— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. II. Act IV. Sc. 1. L. 154.
O war! thou son of hell, Whom angry heavens do make their minister, Throw in the frozen bosoms of our part Hot coals of vengeance! Let no soldier fly. He that is truly dedicate to war Hath no self-love, nor he that loves himself Hath not essentially but by circumstance The name of valour.— Shakespeare — Henry VI. Pt. II. Act V. Sc. 2. L. 33.
Put in their hands thy bruising irons of wrath, That they may crush down with heavy fall The usurping helmets of our adversaries.— Shakespeare — Richard III. Act V. Sc. 3. L. 110.
Sound trumpets! let our bloody colours wave! And either victory, or else a grave.— Shakespeare — Henry VI. Pt. III. Act II. Sc. 2. L. 173
The armourers, accomplishing the knights, With busy hammers closing rivets up, Give dreadful note of preparation.— Shakespeare — Henry V. Act IV. Chorus. L. 12.
The arms are fair, When the intent of bearing them is just.— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. I. Act V. Sc. 2. L. 88.
The bay-trees in our country all are wither'd And meteors fright the fixed stars of heaven; The pale-fac'd moon looks bloody on the earth And lean-look'd prophets whisper fearful change; Rich men look sad and ruffians dance an leap, The one in fear to lose what they enjoy, The other to enjoy by rage and war.— Shakespeare — S. Richard II. Act II. Sc. 4. L. 8.
The cannons have their bowels full of wrath And ready mounted are they to spit forth Their iron indignation 'gainst your walls.— Shakespeare — King John. Act II. Sc. 1. L. 210.
The fire-eyed maid of smoky war All hot and bleeding will we offer them. и.— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. I. Act IV. Sc. 1. L. 114.
The nimble gunner With linstock now the devilish cannon touches, And down goes all before them.— Shakespeare — Henry V. Act III. Chorus. L. 32.
There are few die well that die in a battle.— Shakespeare — Henry V. Act IV. Sc. 1. L. 148.
They shall have wars and pay for their presumption.— Shakespeare — Henry VI. Pt. III. Act IV. Sc. 1. L. 114.
Thou know'st, great son, The end of war's uncertain.— Shakespeare — Coriolanus. Act V. Sc. 3. L. 140.
Thus far into the bowels of the land Have we march'd without impediment.— Shakespeare — Richard III. Act V. Sc. 2. L.3.
Tut, tut; good enough to toss; food for powder, food for powder; they'll fill a pit as well as better.— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. I. Act IV. Sc. 2. L. 71.
We must have bloody noses and crack'd crowns, And pass them current too. God's me, my horse!— Shakespeare — Henry IV. Pt. I. Act II. Sc. 3. L. 96.
Your breath first kindled the dead coal of wars And brought in matter that should feed this fire; And now 'tis far too huge to be blown out With that same weak wind which enkindled it.— Shakespeare — King John. Act V. Sc. 2. L. 83.
Then more fierce The conflict grew; the din of arms, the yell Of savage rage, the shriek of agony, The groan of death, commingled in one sound Of undistinguish'd horrors.— SOUTHEY — Madoc. Pt. II. XV.
But, Virginians, don't do it, for I tell you that the flagon, Filled with blood of Old Brown's offspring, was first poured by Southern hands; And each drop from Old Brown's life-veins, like the red gore of the Dragon, May spring up a vengeful Fury, hissing through your slave-worn lands: And Old Brown, Osawatomie Brown, May trouble you worse than ever, when you've nailed his coffin down.— E. C. STEDMAN — How Old Brown Took
Harper's Ferry. Written during Brown's Trial. Nov., 1859. The crystal-pointed tents from hill to hill.— E. C. STEDMAN — Alice of Monmouth.
Bellum autem ita suscipiatur, ut nihil aliud, nisi pax, quæsita videatur. Let war be so carried on that no other object may seem to be sought but the acquisition of peace.— CICERO — De Officiis. I. 23.
Qui per virtutem peritat, non interit. He who dies for virtue, does not perish.— PLAUTUS — Captivi. III. 5. 32.
Virtus, etiamsi quosdam impetus a naturâ sumit, tamen perficienda doctrinâ est. Although virtue receives some of its excellencies from nature, yet it is perfected by education.— QUINTILIAN — De Institutione Oratoria.
XII. 2. 1. Divitiarum et formæ gloria fluxa atque fragilis; virtus clara æternaque habetur. The glory of riches and of beauty is frail and transitory; virtue remains bright and eternal.— SALLUST — Catilina. I.
Marcet sine adversario virtus. Virtue withers away if it has no opposition.— SENECA — De Providentia. II.
Explorant adversa viros. Perque aspera dura Nititur ad laudem virtus interrita clivo. Adversity tries men; but virtue struggles after fame regardless of the adverse heights.— SILIUS ITALICUS — Punica. IV. 605.
Puras deus non plenas adspicit manus. God looks at pure, not full, hands.— SYRUS — Maxims.
Mens sibi conscia recti. A soul conscious of its own rectitude.— VIRGIL — Eneid. I. 604.
Stat sua cuique dies; breve et irreparabile tempus Omnibus est vitæ; set famam extendere factis Hoc virtutis opus. Every man has his appointed day; life is brief and irrevocable; but it is the work of virtue to extend our fame by our deeds.— VIRGIL — Eneid. X. 467.
Silent leges inter arma. The law is silent during war.— S. CICERO — Oratio Pro Annio Milone. IV.
Postquam Discordia tetra Belli ferratos postes portasque refregit. When discord dreadful bursts her brazen bars, And shatters locks to thunder forth her wars.— HORACE — Satiræ. I. 4. 60. (Quoted.
Original not known, thought to be from ENNIUS.) Alta sedent civilis vulnera dextræ. The wounds of civil war are deeply felt. и.— LUCAN — Pharsalia. I. 32,
Non tam portas intrare patentes Quam fregisse juvat; nec tam patiente colono Arva premi, quam si ferro populetur et igni; Concessâ pudet ire viâ. The conqueror is not so much pleased by entering into open gates, as by forcing his way. He desires not the fields to be cultivated by the patient husbandman; he would have them laid waste by fire and sword. It would be his shame to go by a way already opened.— LUCAN — Pharsalia. II. 443.
Nulla fides pietasque viris qui castra sequuntur. Good faith and probity are rarely found among the followers of the camp.— LUCAN — Pharsalia. X. 407.
Omnibus hostes Reddite nos populis-civile avertite bellum. Make us enemies of every people on earth, but prevent a civil war.— LUCAN — Pharsalia. II. 52.
Adjuvat in bello pacatæ ramus olivæ. In war the olive branch of peace is of use.— OVID — Epistoiæ Ex Ponto. I. 1. 31.
Fortuna belli semper ancipiti in loco est. The fortune of war is always doubtful.— SENECA — Phœnissa. VI. 9.
Miseram pacem vel bello bene mutari. Even war is better than a wretched peace.— TACITUS — Annales. III. 44.
Ratio et consilium propriæ ducis artes. The proper qualities of a general are judgment and deliberation.— TACITUS — Annales. III. 20.
Dolus an virtus quis in hoste requirat? Who asks whether the enemy were defeated by strategy or valor?— VIRGIL — Eneid. II. 390.
Sævit amor ferri et scelerata insania belli. The love of arms and the mad wickedness of war are raging.— VIRGIL — Eneid. VII. 461.
Una salus victis nullam sperare salutem. The only safety for the conquered is to expect no safety.— VIRGIL — Eneid. II. 354.
Ein Schlachten war's, nicht eine Schlacht, zu nennen! It was a slaughter rather than a battle.— SCHILLER — Die Jungfrau von Orleans.
Was uns alle bändigt, das Gemeine. The universal subjugator, the commonplace.— GOETHE — Taschenbuch für Damen auf
das Jahr 1806. Wir sind ein Volk, und einig wollen wir handeln. We are one people and will act as one.— SCHILLER — Wilhelm Tell. II. 2. 258.