"The slightest acquaintance with history shows that powerful republics are the most warlike and unscrupulous of nations"
- Ambrose Bierce
About this Quote
This quote by Ambrose Bierce recommends that powerful republics are more likely to participate in war and act without ethical restraint than other countries. Bierce is indicating that the power of a republic can result in a sense of entitlement and a neglect for the repercussions of their actions. He is recommending that the more powerful a republic is, the more likely it is to act without regard for the repercussions of its actions. This could be due to a lack of responsibility or a sensation of supremacy over other nations. Bierce is alerting that effective republics should be aware of their potential to act without moral restraint and ought to be held accountable for their actions. He is suggesting that powerful republics should understand their possible to trigger damage and needs to be held to a greater standard of morality.
"A lawyer without history or literature is a mechanic, a mere working mason; if he possesses some knowledge of these, he may venture to call himself an architect"
"We have our own history, our own language, our own culture. But our destiny is also tied up with the destinies of other people - history has made us all South Africans"
"It is humiliating to remain with our hands folded while others write history. It matters little who wins. To make a people great it is necessary to send them to battle even if you have to kick them in the pants. That is what I shall do"
